Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 17]

MEMOIR OF TALCOTT E. WING.

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bate, and re-elected in 1868. In 1873, at the close of his second term,
he opened an office where he acted as counselor at law and transacted
business connected with his own affairs, which had then become quite
extensive. This office he continued till 1886. In this year he entered
into a contract to compile a history of Monroe county, and finding the
publicity of his office interfered with his work upon the history, he
withdrew to his home. Here the last years of his life were spent upon
the work which he designed to be his monument, and here, less than
forty-eight hours after the completion of his manuscript, his work on
earth closed.
The evening of January 24, 1890, was passed by the Judge at his
cheerful home in entertaining a company of friends. It was quite late
when he retired to his room. Something like an hour afterward he
called his son and complained of feeling ill. Medical aid was at once
summoned, but after an illness of but an hour, he peacefully passed
away.
Judge Wing's connection with the Pioneer Society began many years
ago. He was essentially one of the pioneers of this peninsular commonwealth and his love and admiration for his native State was;boundless.
No fairer skies were ever spread above him than the skies of Michigan;
and even when a year or two before his death he spent a season at
the Bermudas, upon his return he dwelt with pleasure upon the many
beauties of his home. Of a wonderfully retentive memory, he always
took a deep interest in the early history of the State, and the exchange
of reminiscences of the society was ever to him a source of abiding
pleasure. He was president of the society in 1887-8, and was appointed
by Governor Luce as President of Michigan's commission to participate
in the centennial celebration of the settlement of the northwest territory, which was held at Marietta, Ohio, in 1888.
* Early in life he became a member of the Presbyterian Church and
an active and earnest worker in the cause of the christian religion.'
For many years he was the treasurer of his church and in 1886 was
ordhined one of its elders. He was greatly interested in the work of
the Sunday school, and was instrumental in organizing and fostering
schools at outlying points, often riding several miles every Sabbath in
order to be present. Before his lono- and useful life closed he had the
satisfaction of seeing the seed which he had thus sown springing up in
churches.
He was an intelligent advocate of the higher education, and was one
of.the founders of the admirable system of public schools which are

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