Mary Churchill Hawkins and Edward Dewitt Kinne

EDWARD DEWITT KINNE was born February 9, 1841 in DeWitt, Onondaga, New York,⁹⁴ and died July 25, 1921 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan.^{790, 3605} He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan.^{456, 1922, 1926}

He married (1) MARY CHURCHILL HAWKINS on June 27, 1867 in Washtenaw County, Michigan,²⁹ daughter of MARY ELIZABETH WELCH and OLNEY HAWKINS. She was born in 1845 in Michigan, and died November 21, 1882.¹⁹³¹ She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan.^{1926, 456}

He married (2) FLORENCE S. KELLEY on June 25, 1884 in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

• Descendant Reports
  • William Scott Descendant Report (Ancestor of Mary C. Hawkins)

Children of MARY CHURCHILL HAWKINS and EDWARD DEWITT KINNE:

1. SAMUEL DENTON KINNE, b. July 13, 1869, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan;^{785, 973} d. July 3, 1904, Cedar Falls, Black Hawk, Iowa.⁷⁸⁵
2. MARY WHITE KINNE, b. March 1, 1880, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan;^{768, 772, 973} m. ABNER JACKSON LECLAIR MARTIN on October 3, 1901 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan^{772, 29, 781}; d. February 16, 1963, Sartori Memorial Hospital, Cedar Falls, Iowa.⁷⁷²

Education

Work History

Newspaper Articles

Ann Arbor Courier, January 4, 1888³⁹⁰³

A CHANGE.

Off With the old and on With the New.

With January 1st a change occurred in this judicial circuit, Hon. Chauncey Joslyn, who has for the past six years presided therein, stepping down from the bench, and Hon. Edward D. Kinne ascending thereto.

EDWARD D. KINNE,

is also one of our well known citizens. He is a native of New York State, having been born in Onondaga county in 1842. He graduated from the literary department of the University in 1864, and two years later from the Columbia Law School at Washington, D.C. Returning to Ann Arbor he began the practice of law, entering into partnership with the late Olney Hawkins. Mr. Kinne's b right intellect, thoroughness and prompt attention to business at once won hi a fince practice, and his genial ways made him popular. He was elected recorder of this city two terms, and then served two terms as mayor, filling each position with honor. Still later he went to the state legislater, and served his constituents with ability. For several years past he has served the city as its attorney, being elected each time by the nearly unanimous vote of the council. This office he resigned as he took his seat upon the bench.

Mr. Kinne's popularity can best be shown by the handsome majority by which he was elected over George M. Landon, of Monroe, polling 2,375 more votes in this and Monroe counties than did his competitor, though there is a democratic majority in the two counties of about 2,500.

There is very much expected from Judge Kinne, and no one doubts but that the expectations will be more than realized, for he is a well-poised, calm, level-headed man, who will do right. And so we "greet the coming, and speeding the parting."

Semi-Weekly Cedar Falls Gazette, May 13, 1902¹⁸⁶⁵

Judge Edward D. Kinney, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, father of Mrs. LeClair Martin, of this city, may recieve the appointment of Minister to Hauge. Judge Kinne has been at the White House in conference with the President, and the Washington papers announce that his is slated as a possible successor to Minister Newell of Minnesota. He is a man of broad culture and his experience as a judge and a lawyer have prepared him to fill successfully a position of this kind.

Waterloo Evening Courier, June 15, 1914¹⁸⁶⁷

Judge E. D. Kinne of Ann Arbor, Mich., father of Mrs. LeClair Martin of this city, has been named by Gov. Ferris of Michigan as one of the state board of commissioners of the world peace foundation.

Obituaries

Detroit Free Press, November 22, 1882¹⁹³¹

Ann Arbor.

Mrs. Kinne, wife of Hon. E. D. Kinne, of Ann Arbor, and daughter of the late Olney Hawkins, died at noon on Tuesday of quick consumption. Mr. Kinne, not looking for so sudden a termination of the disease which had fastened upon his wife, and acting upon the advice of his physician that he could leave home now better than later, left for New York City on the 10:14 a. m. train. He was telegraphed at the Ambermburg (?), and his return on the evening train was expected.

Cedar Falls Gazette, July 15, 1904⁷⁸⁹

Mrs. E. D. Kinne, wife of Judge Kinne, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and mother of Mrs. LeClaire Martin, of this city, died suddenly of heart trouble at her home Sunday.

Adrian Daily Telegram, July 26, 1921¹⁹²¹

JUDGE EDWARD D. KINNE OF ANN ARBOR IS DEAD

Presided in Washtenaw Circuit Court for More than 30 Years

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 26.—Former Judge Edward D. Kinne, 78 years old, who for more than 30 years presided over the Washtenaw circuit court, and who at the time of his retirement was the oldest judge in the state in point of continuous service, died here yesterday afternoon after a long illness. He had lived in Ann Arbor 61 years.

Judge Kinne, during his long career on the bench, was recognized as one of the foremost legal authorities in Michigan.

Besides his widow, Winnifred Morse Kinne, one daughter, Mrs. LeClair Martin, of Cedar Falls, Ia., survives.

Ann Arbor News, July 26, 1921¹⁹²²

JUDGE KINNE DIES AT AGE OF 78 YEARS

Headed Circuit Court for 30 Years; Made Great Bench Record

REFUSED REELECTION

Funeral Services Will Be Held at Home Wednesday At 2:30

Judge E. D. Kinne, for 30 years circuit judge in this district, died Monday afternoon shortly after ? o'clock, and following an illness that came upon him fours years ago, shortly after his retirement from the bench, and which had grown more or less steadily worse until the end. He was 78 years old.

Last spring, while in New York with his wife, a heart attack occurred from which he never rallied, except sufficiently to be brought to his home in this city. Only his splendid vitality has kept him alive for several weeks.

Judge Kinne is survived by his widow, Mrs. Winifred Morse Kinne, and by a daughter by a former marriage, Mrs. Le Clair Martin of Cedar Rapids, Ia.

Funeral services for the dead jurist will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Kinne homestead, 105 South Fifth avenue, the Rev. Dr. Henry Tatlock of St. Andrew's church, officiating.

Came Here in 1860.

Judge Edward D. Kinne was born at De Witt Center, New York state. His father was a farmer by occupation, and for several terms represented his district in the New York legislature. The son, Edward, after a public school education, came to Ann Arbor in 1860, to enter the literary college of the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1864.

Upon his graduation he went to Washington, D. C., where he had accepted a position in the diplomatic bureau of the United States treasury department. He worked in the bureau by day, and at night studied law in the Columbia Law school, from which he was graduated in 1867. After being admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia he returned to Ann Arbor and opened a law office.

Almost from the beginning his law practice was large, ranking with the best in the county. From time to time he held public office, once as city recorder, then as city attorney, and twice he was mayor of the city.

In 1879 he was sent to the legislature from this district, and while there was a member of the judiciary committee and chairman of the committee on private corporations. He was elected judge of the 22nd judicial circuit of Michigan in 1887. Though elected to these several responsible offices, Judge Kinne had never been a politician and never became one.

Big Majorities

When Judge Kinne was elected to the circuit judgeship, the circuit comprised Monroe and Washtenaw counties and for many years this combination of counties existed. For the four succeeding terms of his office Judge Kinne was elected with large majorities, sometimes without opposition. He had a wonderful vitality, was capable of severe and prolonged mental activity; was a good student, a rapid worker, a strong reasoner and safe councillor. He had naturally a fine legal mind, and he enriched and strengthened it by severe literary and legal training. He took his duties seriously, and never attended upon them half heartedly.

For the first half of his term of years on the bench, Judge Kinne, a staunch Republican, was elected by the Democrats, for during these years both Monroe and Washtenaw counties were strong Democratic strongholds.

Fearless Judge.

There was never a question of wronged justice in Judge Kinne's court. His court, as was right, constituted a forum to redress wrongs, and adjudicate differences between contending forces, and in that court the presiding officer's legal ability, his honesty and his learning were unquestioned. No man every challenged Judge Kinne's integrity; no man left his court feeling that he had been unfairly or unjustly dealt with. There was no partiality shown in that court, and the matter of friendship never interfered with justice.

In fact, so conscientious was Judge Kinne, so fearful that circumstances might arise to bias his judgment, that he became a sort of recluse, living closely in his family and with his books. He was a man who valued his friendships, a social man who lived his group and would have been an influential member in any club, but at the outset of his career as a judge he decided that in order to sit on any important case with an absolutely unbiased mind, he must cut himself off from clubs and groups of men who would likely be interested in some phases of at least some of the cases which would naturally come before him for trial. Thus he sacrificed himself for 30 years, for it was a great sacrifice to him—and for 30 years he lived apart from the men whom he would have so enjoyed mingling with socially.

Three Sessions a Day.

The judgeship of the 23d judicial circuit came to Mr. Kinne unsought, unwanted. It was offered him in a state convention at Dundee, and refused. Later, the committee in charge came to him and told him that his name as nominee was essential ant that better things were awaiting him if he made the run. He finally accepted the nomination. Opposing him on the Democratic ticket was Judge London of Monroe, a scholar, an excellent lawyer, a fine speaker, and as Judge Kinne so often said, one of the most honorable men he had ever known. But, despite the fact of a great Democratic majority, which in those days existed in these two counties, Judge Kinne was elected by a majority of 2,000. Thereafter Judge Kinne sought the nomination.

For the first 16 or 18 years of the judgeship Judge Kinne frequently held three sessions of court a day. Later, when the district was divided, his sessions were held like those in districts similar to his own. When he retired four years ago it was at his own request, and after he had been urged again and again to run for the judgeship for the sixth term.

Judge Kinne was a member of the vestry of St. Andrew's Episcopal church, and for many years he had been president of the First National bank.

Health Failed.

After his retirement from the bench, he opened a law office. He left shortly afterward, however, for a winter in the south, and there he suffered the beginning of a breakdown. He spent the following summer in the Canadian woods, but the relief it brought was short lived, and he returned to Ann Arbor showing the signs of age for the first time.

Last winter he spent in New York City with his wife. There he suffered a heart attach, from which he rallied, only to be stricken again, and again he rallied, but only sufficiently to be brought home here. For the last two weeks, he has been unconscious practically all of the time.

Detroit Free Press, July 27, 1921¹⁹²⁹

EX-JUDGE KINNE WILL BE BURIED WEDNESDAY

Special to The Free Press

Ann Arbor, Mich., July 26.—Funeral services for E. D. Kinne, for 30 years circuit judge of Washtenaw county, will be held Wednesday afternoon from the Kinne residence, 105 South Fifth avenue. Pall-bearers are: H. M. Bates, dean of Michigan school; Walter Mack and Professor G. W. Patterson, both vestrymen in St. Andrew's church, a position held for many years by Judge Kinne; Sidney Clarkson, an associate in the First National bank, of which Kinne was president; Harry Douglas, treasurer of the Washtenaw County Gas company, of which the judge was president, and Attorney M. J. Cavanaugh. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery.

Palo Alto Reporter, August 4, 1921⁷⁹⁰

Dean of Michigan Judges Dead.

Ann Arbor, Mich., July 28.—Former Judge Edward Kinne, seventy-eight years old, who for more than thirty years presided over the Washtenaw Circuit court, is dead here after a long illness.

Census Records

Date	Location	Enumerated Names
July 16, 1850803	Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan	Olney Hawkins Mary Elizabeth Welch Frances Latimer Hawkins Martha Smith Hawkins Mary Churchill Hawkins
July 23, 1850803	Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan	Martha Scott Welch Samuel Denton Mary Churchill Hawkins
June 11, 1860802	Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan	Martha Scott Welch Samuel Denton Mary Churchill Hawkins
June 7, 1870801	Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan	Edward Dewitt Kinne Mary Churchill Hawkins Martha Scott Welch Samuel Denton Kinne
June 5, 1880800	Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan	Edward Dewitt Kinne Mary Churchill Hawkins Samuel Denton Kinne Mary White Kinne Mary Elizabeth Welch
June 14, 19001793	Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan	Edward Dewitt Kinne Mary White Kinne