George Clapperton – The name of this gentleman is found on the attorneys who have achieved distinction in the courts of Kent and adjoining counties. His history in brief is as follows. He was born on the 10^th day of July, 1857, Ontario, Canada, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Patterson) Clapperton, both parents residents of Ontario and of Scottish birth and ancestry. Robert Clapperton was by trade a carpenter. He came to the United States in 1865, locating in Allegan county, Michigan, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and there remained until a few years ago, when he removed to his present place of residence, Kankakee, Ill. Of the children born to Robert and Elizabeth Clapperton there are four now living, namely: Ella, wife of Frank W. Cornwall, of Cadillac, Michigan; Alex, a railroad employee at Kankakee, Ill.; Anna, a graduate physician in the city of Detroit, and George, whose name appears at the head of this article. Until his sixteenth year the subject of this sketch attended the common schools and then entered an academy at Otsego, Michigan, where he pursued the higher branch of learning for a period of two years. At the age of eighteen years he entered the employ of the L. S. & M. S. R. R., in which capacity he continued until 1884, devoting leisure in the meantime to the study of law. In the above year he entered the office of Taggart & Dennis of Grand Rapids, where he pursed his legal studies for two years and was then admitted to the bar, subsequently becoming associated in the practice with J. R. Wylie, who is still his partner. His practice in the civil courts has been successful and lucrative, and while giving his attention to all kinds of legal business he is especially interested in that department pertaining to commercial law. Mr. Clapperton’s legal attainments are of a high order, and since engaging in the practice he has won an honorable standing among his professional brethren of Kent county bar, and his career is watched with much interest by his many friends, who predict for him a still greater degree of success in years yet to come. Politically Mr. Clapperton is a republican and has always been an active and energetic worker for his party. The home of Mr. Clapperton, situated at No. 21 North Lafayette street, is presided over by a lady well known in social circles of Grand Rapids, to whom he was united in marriage on the 11^th day of October, 1883. The maiden name of Mrs. Clapperton was Hattie L. Barker a native of New York and daughter of David and Puella I. Barker, both of whom were born in the Empire State. This Union has resulted in the birth of two children, Elizabeth and George Douglas Clapperton.