Edward D. Kinne, judge of the twenty-second judicial circuit since 1887 and president of the First National Rank of Ann Arbor, was born at Dewitt Center, near Syracuse, New York, February 9, 1847. He was the youngest in a family of two sons and a daughter, whose parents were Julius C. and Rachel (Wetherby) Kinne. They, too, were natives of the Empire state and were of English lineage, and the father followed the occupation of farming. He was a man of more than local prominence, his strong personality and capability winning him leadership, so that he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature of New York for several terms and left the impress of his individuality upon the laws enacted during his active connection with the house. He died in the year 1855.
Judge Edward D. Kinne, entering the district schools at the usual age, therein continued his studies until he reached the age of fifteen, when he prepared for college as a student in the academy at Cazenovia, New York. In 1860 he matriculated in the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1864. Subsequently he went to Washington, D. C., and became a student of law in the Columbia Law School, and at the same time he performed clerical service under appointment in the diplomatic division of the treasury department. He filled the clerkship for three years, devoting his leisure hours to his studies, so that he was enabled to complete the regular university course by gradution and was then admitted to the bar in the capital city.
Not long afterward Judge Kinne located for practice in Ann Arbor, where he has since retained his residence, and in the public life of the city he had figured prominently by reason of his activity, both within and without the strict path of his profession. In 1869 he was elected city recorder and by re-election was continued in that position for two terms. In 1871 he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of city attorney, remaining as the incumbent for three years, and in 1876 he was elected mayor of Ann Arbor, giving an administration so business-like, practical and progressive that in 1878 he was again chosen for the chief executive. In 1879 upon the republican ticket he was elected to the state legislature and proved an able working member in the council chambers of the commonwealth, being connected with important constructive measures. In 1887 he received his party's nomination for judge of the circuit court, to which he was elected by a majority of two thousand, and he stills holds the office to the entire satisfaction of the general public and the profession. The practice of law has been his real life work and at the bar and on the bench he has won marked distinction. He has recently been elected for a fourth term without opposition as no candidate was put up against him, and he is to have a fifteen-hundred dollar increase in salary. He will have served as circuit judge for twenty-four years when he fills out his present term. He is a man of unimpeachable character, of strong intellectual endowments and with a thorough understanding of the principles of jurisprudence. He took to the bench high qualification for this responsible position and his record as a judge has been distinguished by a masterful grasp of every problem which has presented itself for solution. He is furthermore financially interested in important business concerns of Ann Arbor, being the president of the Ann Arbor Gas Company and of the First National Bank of this city.
In 1867 Judge Kinne was married to Miss Mary C. Hawkins, a daughter of Olney Hawkins, who was for many years a leading member of the Ann Arbor bar. Mrs. Kinne died in 1882, leaving two children: Samuel D. and Mary W. In 1884 Judge Kinne wedded Mrs. Florence S. Jewett, of Ann Arbor. He is a member of the Episcopal church and is held in the highest respect wherever known. Honored in every class of society, he has for sometime been a leader in thought and action in public life of his adopted city and county and his name is inscribed high on the roll of its distinguished citizens.
Source: Past and Present of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Samuel W. Beakes; Published by S.J. Clark Pub. Co., Chicago, 1906.
Waterloo Daily Courier, (Waterloo, Iowa), October 16, 1946
Cedar Falls — A 50th anniversary dinner, celebrating 50 years of service to the community as a lawyer, was observed at the Washington Park Golf and Country club Tuesday evening when Atty. LeClair Martin was host to local bar members and to the three district judges.
Members of the local bar association presented Mr. Martin with a leather brief case.
Martin began his career in Cedar Falls just 50 years ago at noon Tuesday, for it was on that date he arrived by train fresh from his law training at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Following the death of two earlier law partners, Hemenway and Turnipseed, Martin went into partnership with Atty. Reno Reeve in 1920, which continued until 1941, when Reeve dissolved the partnership and went for himself.
Martin has served for 35 years on the library board, was former school board member and has been a member of the bar association for 50 years.
Present for the dinner were Judges W. T. Evans, R. W. Hassner and Shannon B. Charlton, and J. B. Newman, George Newman, Roland Merner, Clarence Parker, S. C. Jacobsen, Reno Reeve, D. B. Johnson and Iver Christoffersen, lawyers.
Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa. Apr. 9, 1947
(Courier Special Service)) Cedar Falls--LeClair Martin, local attorney who celebrated 50 years as a practicing lawyer here last October, died early Wednesday in Colonial hospital, Rochester, Minn., following an operation there two weeks ago. His body was brought to the Dahl funeral home Wednesday afternoon.
Born Nov. 29, 1870, at Paola, Kan., he marred Mary W. Kinne at Ann Arbor, Mich., Oct 3, 1901.
Following graduation from Cornell college with a BA degree he received his law degree at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1896.
The young couple came to Cedar Falls, where Mr. Martin entered into a law partership with Herman C. Hemenway. Mr. Hemenway retired in 1913 and Harry Turnipseed succeeded him in partnership with Martin.
Following the death of Mr. Turnipseed in 1918 Mr. Martin practiced law alone for two years.
In 1920 he formed another partnership, this time with attorney Reno Reeve. This partnership was dissolved in 1940 and Martin continued alone.
He continued his practice up until the time he left for Rochester.
As past president of the Black Hawk County Bar Association, he was a member of the lowa Bar association, the local Ratary club, Methodist church, and had served 35 years on the library board and nine years on the school board.
Surviving; are his wife, four daughters, Mrs. Albert Hetzler, Muscatine; Mrs. George Newman, Cedar Falls; Mrs. Howard Andrews, Pacific Palisades, Cal.; Miss Jeanne Claire Martin, Santa Monica, Cal.; one son, Edward K. Martin, Detroit, Mich.; one sister, Mrs. Grace McDade, Des Moines; two brothers, Victor Martin, Palo Alto, Cal., and Will Martin, Denver, Colo.
Ogden Reporter, (Ogden, Iowa), April 17, 1947
Last Friday Rev. and Mrs. Paul M. McDade, and Mrs. Grace McDade, the pastor's mother, made a 250 mile drive to and from Cedar Falls, Iowa to see the other relatives of Mr. LeClair Martin, the pastor's uncle. Mr. Martin, an attorney who had practiced in Cedar Falls for a little more than 50 years, was a prominent Methodist, being a trustee of the Wesley Foundation of Iowa, and a member of the Methodist Board of Foreign Missions, (the national committee). Mr. Martin died at Rochester, Minnesota, fifteen days after he had undergone major surgery. He was 76 years old, and was active in his profession until the very day he went to the hospital for his operation. He leaves his wife, four daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren, Mr. Martin's two younger brothers, Will of Denver, Colorado, and Victor, of Palo Alto, California, were also at Cedar Falls on Friday.
The funeral was on Saturday afternoon, but the McDades had to return on Friday night, because of the pastor's duties in the local church.
LeClair Martin was a gracious gentlemen, one of God's noblemen. Several times he had been a guest in the McDade home, visiting his sister. No one was ever more eagerly welcomed into the fellowship of that home.
