Fred Augustus Maynard.—This distinguished representative of the Michigan bar is ex-attorney general of the state, is still in the prime of life, and his friends insist that he is at the opening of a brilliant career. He is a master of the theory and practice of law, and his enviable standing as an honest man and an upright citizen gives character to his eloquent speech. He was born in Ann Arbor, January 20, 1852, and his career has honored his native state.

His father, John W. Maynard, is the oldest living settler of Washtenaw county, as respects years of residence. The father came from Massachusetts in 1824, and when he grew to manhood, engaged in mercantile pursuits in Ann Arbor, in which he is still interested. By his generosity it was made possible for Ann Arbor to become the seat of the great university of Michigan. Mr. Maynard’s mother is a native of New York, the daughter of the Hon. Gideon Willcoxson, a leader of the bar in the

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early days of Michigan. She came with her parents to Ann Arbor in the spring of 1826.

Mr. Maynard’s parents were married on the 7^th day of December, 1836, and soon thereafter established their home in the house which they now occupy. It is thought that this is the oldest house in the state of Michigan.

Fred Augustus Maynard was reared under the parental roof, and graduated from the city high school in 1870. The same year he matriculated in the classical department in the university of Michigan, and in due time completed his studies and received the degree of A. B. in 1874. In the fall of that year he entered the law department of the same university, and made so good a record in the next two years that he was graduated without undergoing the ordeal of an examination. Even while a law student he was admitted to the Wayne county bar, after a thorough examination in the spring of 1875. In 1876 he had conferred upon him the degrees of M. A. and LL. B. The literary class of 1874 contained a number who have since become prominent in professional, business and political circles. Among these are Dr. Henry Wade Rogers, president of the Northwestern university at Evanston, Ill.; Lawrence Maxwell, of Cincinnati, a leader of the Ohio bar, and lately solicitor-general of the United States; Henry T. Thurber, President Cleveland’s private secretary; Victor H. Lane, circuit judge; Henry R. Pattengill, superintendent of public instruction of Michigan; William H. Wells, leader of the Detroit bar; Prof. Calvin Thomas, lately of the university of Michigan, and one of the most brilliant educators in the country. Mr. Maynard was a leading spirit in the university athletic world, being a member of the university base-ball nine, cricket eleven and foot-ball eleven. Late in the year 1875 he came to Grand Rapids, and the next year became assistant prosecuting attorney of Kent county-his partner, Capt. Stephen H. Ballard, being prosecuting attorney. In 1881 Mr. Maynard was elected prosecuting attorney by an overwhelming majority, and at the same time formed a partnership with Mr. George P. Wanty, which was continued for three years. In 1887 his present partner, Henry E. Chase, became associated with him under the firm name of Maynard & Chase. Mr. Maynard’s administration of the duties of prosecuting attorney was marked with great brilliancy. Many reforms were instituted by him, which have resulted in the saving of thousands of dollars to the tax-payers.

In 1885 he was unanimously nominated the office of judge of the superior court of Grand Rapids. In 1886 he declined the nomination for the state senate. In 1889 he became Michigan’s candidate for the office of governor of Alaska, having the unanimous support of the Michigan delegation, but President Harrison saw fit to give the appointment to Vermont. In 1890 he was elected representative to the state legislature under the law providing for cumulative voting, which was afterwards declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. In 1894 he was elected attorney general by a plurality of over 112,000. He was warmly commended by state press in his preliminary canvass, and his nomination was made by acclamation—the first among the very few times in the history of the state when a first nomination was accorded by acclamation and a rising vote—and elected by a plurality of over 57,000. He has an established reputation as a trial lawyer, and his management of a case is a delight to a student. He is an enthusiastic, all around lawyer, and was for several years a director of the State Bar association.

He is a stalwart republican, and never hesitates to express his convictions. He ad-vocates broad and progressive ideas, and is a vigorous representative of the young republicans of the state. He is public speaker of much power and many natural oratorical gifts. Quickness of perception, soundness of judgment, solid common sense, fidelity and enthusiastic loyalty to his friends, are regarded as the more prominent attributes of Mr. Maynard’s character.

He is very happy in his domestic relations. Miss Charlotte Nelson became his wife October 24, 1878; she is a daughter of the late James M. Nelson, a prominent figure in the first manufacturing enterprise in Grand Rapids. She is a lovely woman, and accomplished and popular lady, and well supports her husband’s name and standing. They are the parents of two children, a girl and a boy.

Mr. Maynard comes of good patriotic stock and belongs to the order of the Sons of the American Revolution. He enjoys the some what unusual distinction of having had three great grandfathers in the American Revolution. He is a college Greek, and is a member of the D. K. E., in whose fortunes he still takes a lively interest. On the expiration of his term of office in December, 1898, he again engaged in the active practice of his profession.