xteen; finally going to Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, New York. He farmed wi
th his father and taught school for several years. In the fall of 18
35 he moved to Oakland County, Michigan and remained in Oakland County f
or two years.

In September of 1837 he married Mary at Orion, Michigan and they had fi
ve children. In May 1838 he moved to Hadley, Lapeer County, Michigan a
nd started farming. He studied surveying in New York and followed that pr
ofession in Lapeer County for ten or twelve years. He surveyed Hadley Cem
etery in 1839 and the first lot was deeded to him

In 1839 he joined the Methodist Church. He was Hadley's township supervis
or in 1840 and also in 1849 and 1854. At Orion he became a member of I.O.
O.F. in 1849 and was a member of I.O.O.F. in 1866. He commenced practici
ng law in 1850 and at various times he was town clerk, highway commissione
r, school inspector, justice of the peace and board of supervisors represe
ntative for both the township and city districts. In 1849 he was postmast
er at Hadley, Michigan.

The 1850 census has him listed as a farmer at Hadley with three childre
n. William moved to Lapeer in 1857 and became a member of the bar; mov
ed into his new house with his family in 1858. The house was on a lot th
at included the entire block, but, although it still stands, it occupies o
nly the northeast corner of the block presently. The address was 88 Ma
in Street, Lapeer, Michigan.

He was Lapeer city trustee from 1861 to 1863, circuit court commissioner f
or twenty years, and a member of the state legislature in 1863-1864; he al
so helped organize the Lapeer Bar Association in 1863 and was its preside
nt from 1863 to 1884.

At the time of his death he was the oldest practicing attorney in Lapeer C
ounty.

He was said to be "interested in the growth of the city, high standar
ds in the schools, and was always found on the side of good morals and rig
ht; courteous to other lawyers and helpful to the young bar members". Int
erested in the wider scene he wrote articles for the Lapeer "Clarion"; o
ne being on "Protection vs Free Trade", published June 21, 1884.

About a week before his death he fell and was injured. He died December 2
3, 1884 leaving his wife, four girls and one boy. He was so well esteem
ed by his peers that they closed the Circuit Court on the day of his funer
al and devoted the afternoon to memorial exercises for their fallen membe
r, the Honorable William Hemingway.