Arthur Raymond Rood
Arthur Raymond Rood, prominent as an attorney at law in Grand Rapids, with his office at No. 301 Widdicomb building, was born in Lapeer, Mich., 27 September 1858, and is of English descent. Henry C. Rood, father of Arthur R. Rood, was a native of Vermont, and descended from ancestors who came to America long before the Revolutionary war and settled in Wilbraham, Mass., but members of the family later removed to Vermont. Moses Rood, great grandfather of subject, served as a soldier in the struggle for the independence of the colonies, and Aaron Rood, grandfather of Arthur R., was a soldiers of the War of 1812. Anna Eliza (Clark) Rood, mother of Arthur R., was born in Michigan, but her parents were both natives of the north of England.
Henry C. was brought to Michigan by his parents when only six years of age, and became one of the pioneer farmers of Lapeer county, where he is living at the present time.
Arthur Raymond Rood worked on his father’s farm in youth and attended the district school in season until thirteen years old. He then entered the high school at Lapeer, finished its course, and was graduated in 1876. In the autumn of the same year he matriculated at the University of Michigan and pursued the studies of the literary department continuously for three years. He had by this time found it necessary to earn the money for his college expenses, and after teaching for one year, he returned to the University of Michigan, completed the Latin and scientific course, and was graduated in 1881 with the degree of Ph. M; the master’s degree was conferred on him for extra work done during the course. For the first year after his graduation he was superintendent of the public schools at Saline.
The vacations and all the hours that could be spared from his duties as teacher were occupied with the study of law, and his proficiency was such that he was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1882. About the same time he was admitted to the senior class of the law department of the university of Michigan, as his preliminary studies were accepted as the equivalent of the first year’s course of study; so that he was able to graduate with his class in the spring of 1883, and received the degree of bachelor of laws.
Immediately after graduation, Mr. Rood located at Grand Rapids and spent a short time in the law office of Hughes & Smiley. This was followed by a brief period in the office of Fred A. Maynard, and a year with S____, Turner & Carroll. He then opened an office for himself, through the substantial assistance of Charles C. Rood, and practiced alone until January, 1893, when he formed a partnership with Will E. Ryan. The firm of Rood & Ryan continued until 1897, when Mr. Ryan was succeeded by Ambrose C. Hindman, which firm continues to the present time; their practice is general. Mr. Rood is a republican. He was chairman of the republican city committee in the campaign of 1896, and re-elected chairman of the committee in 1897. In the spring of 1898, he was nominated for mayor on the republican ticket, but was defeated. In the state convention of September, 1898, he was elected one of the members of the state central committee from the Fifth district. Mr. Rood has been a Mason since 1886, has advanced to the thirty-second degree, and is a member of all the Masonic bodies in Grand Rapids. He is a man of active temperament and energetic, has traveled somewhat, and is unmarried. As a lawyer he is recognized as among the able men in his profession in western Michigan