My Genealogy Hound

Hon. James A. Jacokes, formerly judge of the Probate Court of Oakland County, Michigan, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is a lawyer of learning and ability and is a member of the well known firm of Baldwin, Jacokes & Moore of Pontiac.

Judge Jacokes was born in Geneva, New York, November 21, 1834, and is a son of Rev. Daniel C. Jacokes, deceased, a record of whose life appears in another page of this volume. Our subject was educated at home and largely under the instruction of his father until he had made considerable progress in the studies of a collegiate course. He then attended Albion College for two years after which he took up the study of law in 1857. He was admitted to the bar in 1861 at Pontiac, in which city he has since practiced with uninterrupted success. He was a student under Judge Baldwin, with whom he was later associated in practice. In 1882 the firm of Baldwin, Draper & Jacokes was organized and continued in existence until 1894. In 1895 the firm of Baldwin, Jacokes & Moore came into existence. The firm name is unchanged at the present time, although Judge Baldwin is deceased, and the firm enjoys a large and remunerative clientage, practicing in all the courts. In 1862, Judge Jacokes was elected commissioner of the Circuit Court, an office he filled with credit for a period of four years; he was again elected to that office in 1870 for a term of two years. He served as city attorney for four years and in 1876 was chosen judge of the Probate Court of Oakland County; the duties of this office he discharged for four years with characteristic impartiality and a high sense of justice. From 1880 to 1895, he was a member of the School Board. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been an active worker for party success. He has been a student from early life and is well versed in literature and science. He has fine social qualities and the general verdict of those who know him was expressed by a friend who said, “He is one of those kind-hearted men who have a smile and honest hand for every one.”

On October 15, 1867, Judge Jacokes was united in marriage with Camilla Manning, a daughter of Hon. Randolph Manning, who was associate judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan in the “fifties.” Mrs. Jacokes died November 22, 1890, and her death was a sad blow to her devoted husband. She was a member of the Methodist Church.

Judge Jacokes has been identified with many of the important business interests of Pontiac, among others the Pontiac Savings Bank, of which he was president for two or three years, and the Oakland County Savings Bank, of which he is now a director. He is connected with numerous manufacturing plants and is president of the Pontiac Buggy Company. Judge Jacokes resides in one of the best residence districts of Pontiac, and has a comfortable brick home with handsome surroundings.