Hon. J. Byron Judkins, ex-judge of the Nineteenth judicial circuit of Michigan, and one of the leading lawyers of the Kent county bar, is well known throughout the state. He is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Mercer, and son of James and Mary A. Judkins. His father, James Judkins, removed from Ohio to Michigan in 1870, and is now living in Mecosta county. He is a veteran of the late Civil war, and was captain of company I., One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio infantry. The family of James and Mary Judkins consisted of five children, of whom but two are living at this time: Lewis F., a station agent at Fife Lake on the G. R. & I. R. R., and the subject of this review.

Judge Judkins received his elementary training in the common schools of his native county, and later became a student of the high school at Celina, Ohio. He then entered Liber college, Ind., where he pursued his studies two years, after which he came to Michigan, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1874. Shortly after his admission, he began the practice of his profession at Hersey, Mich., where he remained until 1880, during which time he was a member of the law firm of Burch, Beardsley, & Judkins. In the latter year he was appointed judge of the Nineteenth judicial circuit, by Gov. Croswell, and served as such until January 1, 1894, having been elected and re-elected three times without opposition, all parties supporting him. He voluntarily declined a re-nomination and came to Grand Rapids, where he is now engaged in the practice of his profession.

Judge Judkins is a lawyer of ability, thoroughly informed in the principles of law, and takes high rank among the leading lawyers of this city and state.

As a judge he presided with dignity, was ready at arriving at conclusions, and prompt in announcing them. He was pleasant and affable on the bench, yet firm and decided in his views. During his several terms on the bench the amount of business in his court was exceedingly large, his circuit being one of the most important in the state, and it is a fact worthy of note that but few appeals were ever taken from his decisions, considering the number of cases decided, and he was usually sustained by the supreme court. A smaller percentage of his judgments was reversed by the supreme court than those of any other judge in the state. He decided some of the most important cases ever tried in the circuit courts of the state.

Judge Judkins was united in marriage at Cedar Springs, Mich., October 31, 1876, to Miss Anna L. Haskins, who was born in Ada township, county of Kent, Mich. The parents of Mrs. Judkins were Abram and Margaret Haskins; the father was a soldier during the late Rebellion and his remains now lie in the National Cemetery at Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Haskins departed this life in 1893.

Judge and Mrs. Judkins have a family of three children: Laverne M., Carolyn A., and Edna C. Judge Judkins is a republican in politics. He is a director of the First National Bank at Reed City, and its counsel. In the fall of 1898 he was elected regent of the Michigan university at Ann Arbor, but it subsequently transpired that there was no vacancy and he never filled the office.

He is thrifty and energetic in business, and a man of affairs. The religious creed of Judge Judkins is represented by the Congregational church, with which he and family are identified, his wife and eldest daughter being members of the Park street church in Grand Rapids. The judge and his family stand high socially, and are respected by all who know them.