EDWARD D. KINNE.

Judge of the Circuit Court, of the Twenty-second Judicial Circuit, embracing Washtenaw and Monroe Counties, was born at DeWitt Centre, East Syracuse, Onondaga County, N. Y., February 9, 1842. His father, Julius C. Kinne, was a native of that State, and a farmer by occupation. He was for a number of terms a member of the State Legislature, and was married to Rachel W. Wetherby, who was also a native of New York State. The subject of this sketch attended for a time the district schools, and subsequently the Syracuse High School, up to the age of fifteen years, when he commenced preparation for college at the Cazenovia Seminary, New York. From here he graduated in 1860, and entered the University of Michigan. He graduated from the classical department of the University in 1864, and, going to Washington, D. C., he entered the employ of the Government in the Diplomatic Bureau of the Treasury Department, and also took up the study of the law at the Columbian Law-school, in Washington. He retained his position for a period of three years, and graduated from the law-school in 1867, when he was admitted to practice at the bar of the District of Columbia. Soon afterward he resigned his position under the Government, and, coming to Michigan, he located at Ann Arbor, where he opened his office and commenced practice. He formed a co-partnership with the Hon. Olney Hawkins, which continued until 1869. Subsequently he was for a time in partnership with Messrs. Coleman & Root, but since about 1870 he now has been alone. His law practice has been large, ranking among the first in the county; and his business, involving his whole attention, has kept him to a great extent out of politics. In 1869 he was elected City Recorder, and held that office two terms. In 1871 he became City Attorney, to which office he was elected three successive terms. He was elected Mayor of the city in 1876, and was re-elected the following year. In 1879 he was sent to the Lower House of the State Legislature by the Republican party of his district, and while a member of that body was Chairman of the Committee on Private Corporations, and a member of the Judiciary Committee. In 1887 he was elected Judge of the Twenty-second Judicial Circuit of Michigan, and entered upon the duties of that office on January 1, 1888. Judge Kinne is in the vigor of early manhood, of medium build, and possessed of great vitality, capable of severe and prolonged mental labor; a good student and a rapid worker; a strong reasoner and a safe counselor. He has a fine legal mind, which has been greatly strengthened and enriched by severe literary and legal training; and by close application and attention to business he has fairly and justly won his way to the front rank of the profession, and made a grand success of life. He is one of the few active and successful practitioners who have been able, through a long and successful practice, so to conduct the varied and complex interests submitted to his management that his integrity has never been questioned; and while it is true that, in the trial of a case, his adversary has urgent need to hedge himself about with all the defenses known to honorable warfare, still his standing at the bar is such that no stipulation with him was ever required to be put in writing. His oral promise was all that was necessary. In his business life he is conservative, bordering on timidity; and it is only in the trial of a case where great interests are at stake, in the midst of a conflict such as an ordinary man shrinks from, that he discloses that tenacity of purpose, independence of mind, and personal bravery, of which he is possessed in an unusual degree. As a trial lawyer he has but few equals; thoroughly a master of himself with an intimate knowledge of his case, of quick perceptive faculties, ready to take advantage of any error, master of any principle of the law involved in the case, an accurate reader of human character, able to discern the motives and purpose of a witness as if by inspiration, of inexhaustible resources, he is a formidable antagonist, and whoever wins from him a verdict is entitled to it. The judge is of easy and graceful manners, free from mannerisms, a fine conversationalist, fond of repartee, possessed of a wit of no mean order, a welcome guest in every household, and the center of refined and polite society.

Source: "Portrait and biographical album of Washtenaw County, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States" ⁸⁰⁵

JUDGE EDWARD D. KINNE.

Edward D. Kinne, judge of the twenty-second judicial circuit since 1887 and president of the First National Rank of Ann Arbor, was born at Dewitt Center, near Syracuse, New York, February 9, 1847. He was the youngest in a family of two sons and a daughter, whose parents were Julius C. and Rachel (Wetherby) Kinne. They, too, were natives of the Empire state and were of English lineage, and the father followed the occupation of farming. He was a man of more than local prominence, his strong personality and capability winning him leadership, so that he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature of New York for several terms and left the impress of his individuality upon the laws enacted during his active connection with the house. He died in the year 1855.

Judge Edward D. Kinne, entering the district schools at the usual age, therein continued his studies until he reached the age of fifteen, when he prepared for college as a student in the academy at Cazenovia, New York. In 1860 he matriculated in the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1864. Subsequently he went to Washington, D. C., and became a student of law in the Columbia Law School, and at the same time he performed clerical service under appointment in the diplomatic division of the treasury department. He filled the clerkship for three years, devoting his leisure hours to his studies, so that he was enabled to complete the regular university course by gradution and was then admitted to the bar in the capital city.

Not long afterward Judge Kinne located for practice in Ann Arbor, where he has since retained his residence, and in the public life of the city he had figured prominently by reason of his activity, both within and without the strict path of his profession. In 1869 he was elected city recorder and by re-election was continued in that position for two terms. In 1871 he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of city attorney, remaining as the incumbent for three years, and in 1876 he was elected mayor of Ann Arbor, giving an administration so business-like, practical and progressive that in 1878 he was again chosen for the chief executive. In 1879 upon the republican ticket he was elected to the state legislature and proved an able working member in the council chambers of the commonwealth, being connected with important constructive measures. In 1887 he received his party's nomination for judge of the circuit court, to which he was elected by a majority of two thousand, and he stills holds the office to the entire satisfaction of the general public and the profession. The practice of law has been his real life work and at the bar and on the bench he has won marked distinction. He has recently been elected for a fourth term without opposition as no candidate was out up against him, and he is to have a fifteen-hundred dollar increase in salary. He will have served as circuit judge for twenty-four yearswhen he fills out his present term. He is a man of unimpeachable character, of strong intellectual endowments and with a thorough understanding of the principles of jurisprudence. He took to the bench high qualification for this responsible position and his record as a judge has been distinguished by a masterful grasp of every problem which has presented itself for solution. He is furthermore financially interested in important business concerns of Ann Arbor, being the president of the Ann Arbor Gas Company and of the First National Bank of this city.

In 1867 Judge Kinne was married to Miss Mary C. Hawkins, a daughter of Olney Hawkins, who was for many years a leading member of the Ann Arbor bar. Mrs. Kinne died in 1882, leaving two children: Samuel D. and Mary W. In 1884 Judge Kinne wedded Mrs. Florence S. Jewett, of Ann Arbor. He is a member of the Episcopal church and is held in the highest respect wherever known. Honored in every class of society, he has for sometime been a leader in thought and action in public life of his adopted city and county and his name is inscribed high on the roll of its distinguished citizens.

Source: "Past and Present of Washtenaw County, Michigan" ⁸⁰⁴

EDWARD D. KINNE. Seldom does an individual career compass such varied and important activities as that of Judge Edward D. Kinne of Ann Arbor. His services have given dignity and value to the annals of the bench and bar of Michigan through a period of nearly half a century. More than forty years ago he became active in city and county affairs, and has been honored with nearly all the offices in the gift of his home community. The service by which he has been most distinguished is as judge of the circuit court, and his seat on the circuit bench has been continuous for twenty-seven years. Judge Kinne is also regarded as one of the most substantial business men of Ann Arbor, has long been president of the First National Bank and is Company.

Judge Kinne, who was graduated from the University of Michigan fifty years ago and has practiced law at Ann Arbor since 1867, was born at DeWitt Center near the city of Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York, February 9, 1842, the youngest in a family of two sons and one daughter. His parents were Julius C. and Rachel C. (Wetherby) Kinne, who spent their lives in New York state and were of English origin. Julius C. Kinne, a substantial Onondaga county farmer, was influential in civic affairs, and represented his county in the state legislature several times. His death occurred in 1855, and he was survived a number of years by his wife.

Having been graduated in law and admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia, Judge Kinne soon returned to Michigan and took up practice at Ann Arbor. His subsequent years have been distinguished both by success as a lawyer and prominence in affairs. His only partnership during all those years was with the late Hon. Olney Hawkins, but was dissolved in 1869. In that year Judge Kinne was elected city recorder for Ann Arbor, and after two terms in 1871 was elected city attorney, filling that office three consecutive terms, and in 1876 was chosen mayor, and subsequently re-elected to that office. In 1879 Mr. Kinne became a candidate and was elected to represent Washtenaw county in the state legislature. For many years his influence has carried great weight in politics not only locally but throughout the state, and even his political opponents.

Judge Kinne attended district schools until fifteen years of age, was prepared for college at Cazenovia Academy, and in 1860, having come to Michigan, entered the literary department of the University of Michigan and was graduated bachelor of arts in the class of 1864. An opportune appointment to a clerkship in the treasury department at Washington enabled him during the next three years to earn a living and at the same time attend the law department of Columbian University, now the George Washington University. His life and experience there also brought him a close knowledge of national affairs at one of the most critical and interesting periods of the history of the United States.

After this varied service in local affairs and twenty years of active practice in the law, Judge Kinne in 1887 was nominated by the Republicans for the office of circuit judge, and was chosen by a majority of more than two thousand votes, although the counties of Washtenaw and Monroe were at the time decidedly Democratic. When his first term expired it was largely formality in his re-election, and the people of the district have again and again confirmed his judicial administration so that he is now in his fifth consecutive term. The legal attainments of Judge Kinne were admirable when first elected to the bench. His record as a judge has been such as to command the admiration of the bar, the confidence of litigants and the approval of the public. Judge Kinne has always been a student, not only of the law but of the sciences and of politics and history, and along with scholarship possesses breadth of vision and depth of thought. On the bench he has never manifested the slightest tincture of partisanship. His treatment of the bar, his rulings, his jury charges, all attest the possession of a judicial temperament. Judge Kinne has not betrayed any narrowness or any disposition to regard mere technicalities as being of prime importance, and his quick and accurate comprehension of legal principles has enabled him to formulate with impartiality and soundness all points of equity and justice. Such has been the impression formed of him by his associates, and of his manner and method it has also been said: "There is no exhibition of haste or impatience, no appearance of a desire to be autocratic or to exercise judicial authority as a prerogative and to a degree that savors of oppression. He is earnest, thoughtful, conscientious, impressed with the dignity and responsibilities of judicial functions, and conveys on the bench the definite impression that he is convinced that justice is the one object of courts of law." have admired the determination which causes him to fight to the last ditch for a principle or for what he thinks is right.

Judge Kinne is one of the prominent bankers of central Michigan, and for the past sixteen years has been president of the First National Bank of Ann Arbor. For twenty-five years he was president of the Ann Arbor Gas Company, and when that company was re-organized in 1913 under the title of the Washtenaw Gas Company he was made president of the new corporation, and still holds that office. He is also the owner of valuable real estate in Ann Arbor. Judge Kinne is identified with various social and fraternal organizations, was made a Mason in Washington, D. C, before coming to Ann Arbor, and is a Knight Templar in that fraternity. He supports the cause of religion and education, being a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal church, and for many years a vestryman. Mr. Kinne contributes liberally to the churches in general, and his generosity and effective leadership have been counted upon in practically every enterprise affecting the welfare of his community. He is among the first to give in any worthy cause and the quality of his public spirit is as noteworthy as his ability on the bench or in the direction of large business affairs.

In 1867 Judge Kinne married Miss Mary C. Hawkins, daughter of the late Hon. Olney Hawkins, who for many years was a leader of the Ann Arbor bar. Mrs. Kinne died in 1882, survived by two children: Samuel D. and Mary W. Kinne. The son, who was graduated in both the literary and law departments of the University of Michigan, is now deceased. The daughter, Mary, was educated in the Packard Institute in New York City, and is now the wife of LeClair Martin, of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Judge Kinne's second wife was Winifred L. Morse, a graduate of the Michigan University.

Source: "History of Michigan" ⁸⁰⁶