William Henry Haggerty, formerly police justice of Grand Rapids but at present engaged in an extensive law practice, was born in Muskegon county, March 19, 1854, and is a son of Barton and Mary (Cannavan) Haggerty, natives, respectively, of New York and Ireland.

Barton Haggerty, after his marriage with Miss Cannavan, which marriage took place in Chicago, Ill., located in Muskegon county, Mich., in 1848, and engaged in farming and lumbering. He had served all through the Mexican War, and at the outbreak of the Civil War again volunteered to defend the flag of his country, and served in the Union army three years. He continued farming in Muskegon and Oceana counties, Mich., until 1895, when he returned to his birthplace in the east, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Barton Haggerty are the parents of seven children, of whom there are four still living, viz: Mary, wife of L. M. Shafer, of Oceana county; Nettie, who was married to a Mr. Storrey, but is now a widow; Thomas, in Los Angeles, Cal., and William H. He politics Barton Haggerty is a republican, and in religion is a Baptist.

William Henry Haggerty was reared a farmer and was preliminarily educated in a district school; after reaching his majority he entered Hillsdale college, worked his way through by teaching school during the winter seasons, and graduated, in 1881, with the degree of Ph. B. For two years thereafter he taught in an academy in the state of New York, and then, for two years, taught school in Oceana county, Mich. In 1885 he entered the law department of the Michigan university at Ann Arbor, graduated two years later with the degree of LL. B., and at once located in Grand Rapids. He secured desk-room in the office of William E. Groves, and, after the latter’s election to the bench, retained the entire office outfit. In 1888, Mr. Haggerty formed a partnership with Dwight Goss, and together they conducted a remunerative business. Mr. Haggerty was elected judge of the police court in the fall of 1891, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Judge Holmes. Mr. Haggerty attended to the duties that devolved upon him as police judge as well as to his private practice until the spring of 1892, when, in order that he might give his entire attention to his official duties the firm of Haggerty & Gross was dissolved, and Mr. Haggerty was re-elected, as a recognition of his ability, at the election following. Mr. Haggerty filled this office six and one-half years, all told, and to the entire satisfact6ion of his party and the public. Since retiring from office, Mr. Haggerty has resumed the active practice of his profession, in which he is again rapidly forging to the front.

The marriage of Mr. Haggerty took place in Oswego county, N. Y., June 27, 1883, to Miss Madalia S. Howard, a native of that place, and born March 17, 1860, a daughter of George and Susan (Hall) Howard. This marriage has been blessed with three interesting daughters, who are named, in order of birth, Lillah, Mildred and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Haggerty is a director of the Young Men’s Christian association, in which humane and pious body he feels an unusual interest.