ELLIOTT GRASETTE STEVENSON Lawyer; born, Middlesex Co., Can., May 18,1856; son of William and Mary (McMuray) Stevenson; removed to Port Huron, Mich., in early childhood; educated in public schools of Port Huron, and Academy at London, Ont.; married at Port Huron, 1879 Emma A. Mitts. Studied law in office of O’Brien & Atkinson, Port Huron; was admitted to practice, December 1877, and became partner of firm of Atkinson & Stevenson, the firm becoming Stevenson & Phillips, 1885; removed to Detroit, 1887, and became member of firm of Dickinson, Thurber & Stevenson; practiced alone, 1896-99; was then senior member of firm of Stevenson, Merriam, Eldredge & Butzeland since 1902 has been member of firm of Dickinson, Stevenson, Cullen, Warren & Butzel. Elected prosecuting attorney St. Clair Co., 1878, and re-elected 1880; elected mayor of Port Huron, 1885; chairman State Democratic Central Committee, 1894-96; delegate to national Democratic Convention, Chicago, 1896, and supported Mr. Bryan. Member Detroit Bar Association, Detroit Board of Commerce. Mason, member Knights of Pythias, I.O. Foresters. Clubs: Detroit, Country, North Channel Fishing. Office: 666 Union Trust Bldg. Residence: 34 Davenport St. The Book of Detroiters Edited by Albert Nelson Marquis Copyright, 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis

ELLIOTT GRASETTE STEVENSON Senior member of the firm of Stevenson, Carpentor, Butzel & Backus, occupies a position of preeminence attained by few lawyers in the history of the Detroit bar and has long since established his reputation as one of the foremost lawyers of the middle west. He was but a young lad when ho left the place of his nativity in Middlesex county, Ontario, w*ltb his parents, William and Mnry (MeMurray) Stevenson, who established the family home In Port Huron. He became a scholar in the public schools of that city and following bis graduation from high school he attended an academy at London, Ontario. With the completion of his course there he returned to Port Huron, where he took up the study of law and in 1877 was admitted to practice at the Michigan bar. He then became senior partner in the firm of Atkinson & Stevenson, a relation that was maintained until 1885, when the firm became Stevenson & Phillips. It was in 1878 that Mr. Stevenson was elected prosecuting attorney of St. Clair county, in which position he earned th3 reputation of being one of the ablest cross examiners of Michigan. With almost intuitive wisdom he recognized the weak points in the testimony of a witness and by adroit interrogation drew forth the truth. His splendid record as a fearless prosecutor did much to maintain peace and good order In the county. H3 was reelected in 1880 without effort upon his part. In 1895 he was chosen mayor of Port Huron and his administration of municipal affairs was most business-like, characterized by strong opposition to all that he believed detrimental to tho city's interest and equally stalwart support of everything he believed would prove of public benefit. From the time when age conferred upon him the right of franchise he was a tireless worker in behalf of democratic principles and in 1894 become chairman of the state central comittee of hia party, no serving until 1800, and in that year he was n delegate to the democratic national convention in Chicago. Seeking a larger field for hii splendid legal attainments, Mr. Stevenson located in Detroit in 1887 and became a member of the law firm of Dickinson, Thurber & Stevenson, and during his connection with this firm, Hon. Don M. Dickinson became postmaster general of the United States under President Grovor Cleveland. Mr. Stevenson practiced alone from 1896 until 1899 and then became senior partner in the firm of Stevenson, Merriam, Kidridge & Butzel. A change in the personnel of tho firm led to the adoption of the style of Dickinson, Stevenson, Cullen, Warren & Butzel in 1902 and to that of Stevenson, Carpenter & Butzel in 1908. This association was maintained until 1913, when they were joined by a fourth partner and tho firm name became Stevenson, Carpenter, Butzel h Backus. To know aught of the legal history of Detroit and the state of Michigan is to be familiar with the name of Elliott O. Stevenson. Early in his career It was evident that he possessed the salient qualities that lead to success in law practice. His qualities are such as any might cultivate, the degree and not the kind having determined his success. His industry has been a little moro continuous, his study a little more thorough, bis presentation of his cause a little clearer, his cross examination a little more cunning than that of his opponent at the bar. la the application of a legal principle be is practically never at fault and be has been termed "alert, resourceful, wary, adroit, strategic, hardhitting, surprising Elliott Q. Stevenson." He practiced at the Michigan bar in the later '70s and early '80s, when the lawyers rode in sleighs over the ice from circuit to circuit, bis colleagues then being Colonel John Atkinson, O'Brien Atkinson, Don M. Dickinson and others known only by name to the younger generation of lawyers. While in recent years Mr. Stevenson has concentrated his attention in the main on a most extensive practice, he was called upon to act as counsel for the defense in the case of Henry Ford vs. The Chicago Tribune, upon which the attention of the nation was riveted. It was a matter of the keenest interest to all who enjoy a contest of intellect. He seemed to lose sight of not the slightest point which bore upon bis cose, nor did be fail at any time to detect the weak points in the armor of his adversary. One writer of him recently stated: "Twenty years ago ho was in constant battle against the giants of those days and became known in every circuit and practically overy county in Michigan. It has been said that the actual court work of the average lawyer covers only a few months of his life and instances are many of the powerful legal minds that have broken under the strain, some to retire to corporation business, and others forced along on pure nerve, until the break is complete. Mr. Stevenson, a friend states, has for more than a quarter of a century been constantly in battle but it takes a vigorous young man to outwit or out think him. He never seems to show fatigue. During the recent strike he was culled to Detroit to represent the Detroit United Railway lines in negotiations with the city, before Judge Marschner for a settlement. The argument lasted nntil two o'clock in the morning. Judge Tucker's court now opens at 8:30 A. M. At 9 o'clock in came Mr. Stevenson, took his place at the table as fresh as a daiiy and went through an almost unbroken fourhour session as if be had slept on roses." Aside from his professional interests Mr. Stevenson is vice president of the Union Trust Company of Toronto and it a director of the Pint National Bank. At Port Huron, Michigan, in 1879, Mr. Stevenson was married to Miss Emma A. Mitts, who has passed away. She became the mother of two sons and a daughter: George E.; Helen 8., now the wife of T. P. Plncnrd; and Kenneth. In April, 1920, Mr. Stevenson married Mrs. Nellie Bird Crumrine of Detroit. In fraternal circles Mr. Stevenson has a wide acquaintance. He has become a Knights Templar Mason, is a member of the Knights of Pythias and in the Independent Order of Foresters has been supreme ranger of the United States. He belongs to the Detroit Bar Association, to the Detroit Board of Commerce and i« well known in club circles as a member of the Detroit, Country and Detroit Athletic Clubs. When his professional duties permit a period of leisure he finds both interest and recreation in farming and the raising of blooded stock. While many of his collegues of his early professional career have passed away, he remains a virile member of the Detroit Bar. Some of has attributed his success in considerable measure to his "saying sense of humor" and back of this is the psychological fact that it brings with it relaxation and self-control as opposed to that loss of power which comes through 1oss of temper. He is ever unruffled by any statement uf an opposing counsel and finds keen joy in detecting the vulnerability of an opponent. but back of all this must be a comprehensive understanding of the principles of jurisprudence, the limitations of which as imposed by the constitution on federal lawyers are well understood by him. He is at home in all departments of the law, from the minute of practice to a greater topic* wherein is involved the consideration of the ethic* and the philosophy of juris-prudence and the higher concerns of public policy. The career of Mr. Stevenson before the bar, as a profound. a«tute and versatile lawyer, with a resource fulness that enable* him to meet any situation, however uncxpeeted, has been one of conspicuous brilliance, with a record of achievement not surpassed by any of his contemporaries The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922; By Clarence Monroe Burton, William Stocking, Gordon K. Miller