Judge Solomon Lewis Withey

Lee M Withey Ancestors

Genealogy- Solomon Lewis Withey

Judge Solomon Lewis Withey

Judge Solomon Lewis Withey. Husband of Marion Louise Hinsdill. Born 1820, Died 1886. He was the son of Solomon Withey who was another important person in the early history of Grand Rapids Michigan.

Judge Solomon Lewis Withey Painting

Federal Judge. Father of Charles Shepard Withey. Husband of Marion Louise Hinsdill. This portrait hangs on the wall in the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids Michigan. This photo of the portrait was taken during the 150th anniversary of Solomon's appointment to the Federal bench.

Withey Mausoleum Oak Hill Cemetery Grand Rapids Michigan

My they all rest in peace
Solomon Lewis Withey, Marion Louise Hinsdill Withey, Lewis Hinsdill Withey II, Elizabeth Arney Clore Withey, Lewis Hinsdill Withey, Margaret Boyd McQuwan Withey, Maude Withey Robinson, Benjamin Clapp Robinson

The above picture is the Solomon Lewis Withey family mausoleum that is patterned after a Greek temple on the Acropolis at Athens. It is one of several Greek style monuments in Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids Michigan. Solomon Lewis Withey was the first Federal Judge for the Western District of Michigan. He was born in 1820 and died in 1886. He was married to Marion Louise Hinsdill and they had 6 children.

On March 12, 2013, the Historical Society for the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan presented"Thank God for Michigan," a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Western District of Michigan. Over 380 people attended the event at the Ambassador Ballroom of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. I was invited to this event by Attorney David Gass. I had to decline do to other obligations. I would have been seated at the head table. Solomon Lewis Withey was my Great, Great Grandfather.

150thAnniversary- In Memoriam of Judge Solomon Lewis Withey

Steroescope by David Gass, Volume 5 Issue 4, The Journal of the Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan- Our First District Judge and the Civil War

Steroescopeby David Gass PDF

On March 12th in 1863, Solomon Lewis Withey was appointed Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan at the hand of President Abraham Lincoln. He Held this position until 1886. In 1869 he was tendered, by President Grant, the United States Circuit Judgeship,but because of the sacrifices of which this higher honor would involve he declined it.These nomination papers were located by Michelle Benham Chief Deputy Clerk United States District Court of the Western District of Michigan. Michelle contacted me and then sent PDFs' of these papers. Also Chester Bingham Hinsdill brother of Judge Withey's wife Marion Hinsdill was Clerk of the United States District Court of the Western District of Michigan from Oct-16th 1875 to 1885 while Solomon Withey was Judge. Marion's other brother Henry M. Hinsdill was Clerk of the Circuit Court among many other things. The below PDF files are the nomination papers signed by President Abraham Lincoln. Solomon Lewis Withey was nominated to be the first Judge for the Western District of Michigan. Nomination paper also signed by Secretary of State William Henry Seward who was appointed by Abraham Lincoln on March 5, 1861, and served until March 4, 1869. Seward carefully managed international affairs during the Civil War and also negotiated the 1867 purchase of Alaska.

Judge Withey Nominantion Notes PDF Formal Nomination Paper # 246 Hand written papers #106 Hand written papers