The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-07-21

grandchildren and daily takes part IN
| the deliberations of the board of direc-
! tors of the First national bank, of
which he is a member. Gov" Felch
is man of national as well as state
reputation, having for years served the
country in nearly every public Office in
the gift Of the people. He enjoys the
distinction Of being the oldest living
ex-governor of any state In the union,
In addition to which he is the oldest
surviving United States senator, the
oldest surviving member of the Michi-
gan legislature, the oldest surviving
Judge of the Michigan supreme court
and the oldest surviving auditor gener-
al of Michigan.
In personal appearance Gov" Felch
bears strong resemblance to Horace
Greeley. So strong was this likeness
that it caused him great annoyance dur
ing the Greeley campaign when he was
travelling in the south and was often
taken for the presidential candidate.
Mr.. Felch is OF a quiet, kindly DISPOSE
ton. and in Ann Arbor no resident is
held in higher esteeE: by all classes
than he is, and at present the citizens
are considering the question Of giving
him a public etiOn at the court
house on his ninetieth birthday.
Mr.. Felch was born at Limerick,
Me-, September IS, 1904. His grand
father, Abijah Fetch, was a soldier in
the revolution, and when a young man
took up large grant of land between
the Great and Little Ossipee rivers in
Maine and moved TO that section,
which was then a wilderness. The ia
Their of Alpheus Felch was the first
merchant at Limerick. The father
and mother both died when Alpheus
was three years old, and he went to
live with his grandfather, receiving
his early education in a neighboring
academy. In 1921 he entered Phillips
Exeter academy and afterwards Bow
doin college, from which he gradu-
ated in 1927. He tAen began the study
of law and was admitted to practice at
Bangor, Me-, in 1880, locating at Houl-
ton, Me-, where he practiced until 1888.
His health being impaired by the Sc
we're climate, he disposed of his library
and started for Vicksburg, Miss, but
on his arrival at Cincinnati, O., he was
q ttacked with cholera and on his re-
covery changed his plans and came TO
Michigan.
he first began the practice of his
profession at Monroe, where he con
tinued until 1S43, when he removed to
Ann Arbor, where he has since lived.
lie was elected to the state legislature
in 1888 and continued a member dur
ing 1886 and 1887. During this time
the general banking law of the state
was enacted, he being the only MEM
Der to speak in opposition to it. The I
bill gave birth to the system of wild /
pointed one of the bank commissioners !,
and held the position a year, during /
which time he fearlessly exposed /
many frauds and had many banking .
institutions closed. In 1912 he was APP
pointed auditor general, but served (
only few weeks, being then appointed .
one of the justices of the supreme court /
to fill a vacancy caused by the resigna-
ton of Justice Fletcher. In 1913 he /
" d. tlcCttu 10 iuS CEllSO SEN
ate for the unexpired term, and In 1913 /
was elected governor Of the state, tax
Ing his seat January l, 1916. The leg
stature in 1S47 elected him United
States senator for six years, and he re-
signed his position as governor and
again took his seat in the United States
senate March 4, 1s47. While in that
body he was member OF the commit
zee on public lands and was chairman
for four years. In 1853 he was APP
pointed member Of the commission 70
adjust and settle the Spanish and Mex
can claims IN California. and was made
president Of the commission. These
abors were finished satisfactorily in
March 1886, and Mr.. Felch returned to
Ann .Arbor. Since that period he has
been nominated by the democratic
party once for governor. once for
nited States senator and twice for
ustioe Of the supreme court He served
or several years as a member Of the
BOARD Of regents Of Michigan universe
Z. and in 1879 was made q member Of
he law faculty, being appointed to
he Tappan professOrship of law. and
delivered lectures 20 the students for
everal years. He has two daughters,
me the wife Of Justice c. y. Grant Of
he Michigan supreme court.