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| GEORGE R. MALONE, junior member of the firm of Northrup & Malone, lawyers and real-estate brokers, Big Rapids, Mich., was born near Columbus, Ohio, July 27, 1851. He is the son of Joseph and Maria (McCaddin) Malone, who moved from Columbus to Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, when he was two years old. His father died at that place in 1854, after which his mother removed to Canal Fulton, Stark Co., near the home of her father, John J. McCaddin, who in his younger days was a pioneer, and afterwards a prominent farmer and business man in that locality. At the age of six years the subject of this sketch went to live with his uncle, where he worked on the old homestead of his grandfather summers and went to school winters till he was 15 years of age. After this his entire time for several years was devoted to stufy and teaching. He commenced teaching at the age of sixteen, receiving $16 a month for his first term in Chippewa Tp., Wayne Co., Ohio. After this he removed, with his mother and family, an older brother and sister, to near Lansing, Mich., where he continued alternately to teach and attend school till 1871. At the age of twenty he was engaged as Principal of the schools at Grand Ledge, Eaton Co., Mich., which position he also held during the years 1875-6, having spent most of the intervening time attending the Lansing High School and the State Agricultural College. Early in life Mr. Malone entertained a strong desire to study and practice law, and at the age of sixteen he visited John McSweeny, a leading criminal lawyer of Wooster, Ohio, and completed arrangements to study with him; but this his friends dissuaded him from doing, preferring that he become a teacher or enter the ministry; however, as he always entertained a love for the study of law, during the last years of his teaching he found time to read the works of a number of leading law writers. After closing his second year's work in the schools of Grand Ledge he devoted a year almost exclusively to the study and practice of law at Bell Oak, Ingham Co. After this he spent two years in the mercantile business at Bell Oak; but this enterprise, not being congenial to his taste, did not prove successful. In the apring of 1881, he came to the village of Mecosta, and recommenced the practice of law. He was soon after admitted to the Bar of Mecosta County, and in January, 1883, he came to Big Rapids, and the following summer went into partnership with Mr. C.L. Northrup, an attorney of several years' successful practice in Northern Michigan. Soon after coming to the county Mr. Malone was elected member of the County Board of School Examiners and Secretary of that Board, which position he held for two years. The untiring zeal with which he devoted himself to the duties of this office, and the consequent advancement in educational interests throughout the county, so identified him with the interests of the people that his work will not soon be forgotten. Mr. Malone, though still a young man, is every where known as a mon of the epople; he is therefore an active agent in all matters tending to advance the interests of the community and especially of the young. He is an earnest and ardent speaker, and has presented his views upon leading subjects of public interest, not only in his own county but in different parts of the State. He is an active worker in the cause of temperance and a zealous advocate of both moral suasion and prohibition. He is also a total abstainer himself, having never partaken of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in his life; neither has he ever used tobacco in any form. Mr. Malone was married in Locke Tp., Ingham Co., June 30, 1875, to Miss Fanny E. Atkins, eldest daughter of Harman A. and Harriet V. Atkins, both of whom were pioneers of that county. Mr. Atkins is a physician, having practiced in Ingham County for more than thirty years. He is also a great reader, and a profound student of natural sciences, being the author of a work on ornithology, embodying his daily observations for more than a quarter of a century. Mrs. Malone was born in Locke Tp., Ingham Co., March 5, 1854. She received a liberal education and taught school serveral terms in Ingham and Eaton Counties before her marriage; she still entertaisn the same love for reading and study as that of her father, and so far as possible still gives her time to literary pursuits. Bertha E., only child of Mr. and Mrs. Malone, was born Dec. 29, 1877. In connection with this sketch we take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Malone. |