My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Junius Ten Eyck. Among the members of the legal profession that have practiced in the past before the bar of Oakland County, there has been none to excel in brilliancy the late Judge Ten Eyck of Pontiac. His knowledge of the law was intuitive as well as acquired by long and careful study, and in early life he established a reputation as a trial lawyer which he maintained until his death. He was a man of profound learning, being well versed in the current affairs of the world, and took a keen interest in all that pertained to the welfare of this country, his State and county. During his long residence in Pontiac he made scores of friends, and his death was considered an irreparable loss to the community.

The Ten Eyck family originally came from Holland and was established in this country in 1652 by Conraedt Ten Eyck, who in that year with his family located in New York, then known as New Amsterdam. Of his children, one son located on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, and from him is our subject directly descended.

Judge Ten Eyck was a son of James Ten Eyck and grandson of Jacob Ten Eyck. James Ten Eyck was born in New Jersey, May 4, 1790, and was a prosperous farmer. He married Eliza Vanderhoef, a native of New Jersey and a daughter of Cornelius Vanderhoef, whose ancestors came from Holland. James Ten Eyck and his family came to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1835 and settled on government land in Waterford township. A goodly tract was cleared and improved and substantial buildings erected upon it, and the family became prosperous and progressive. Mrs. Ten Eyck was born February 6, 1792, and died in June, 1849, her husband surviving her 10 years. They had two sons and two daughters. The brother of our subject, Tenodor Ten Eyck, was a soldier during the Civil War and was fighting on the frontier at the time of the massacre at Fort Fetterman. He spent some 15 months in Libby Prison.

Judge Ten Eyck was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, February 24, 1825, and spent his boyhood in his native State. Having come west with his parents he continued his studies in the high school at Rochester, where he was prepared for college. He subsequently became a law student in the offices of Moses Wisner and Rufus Hosmer in Pontiac, and in 1852 was admitted to the bar. He at once opened an office in Pontiac where he remained until his death, laboring zealously in the legal arena. He was elected Circuit Court Commissioner and served for two years, then was re-elected for a second term. During that time, by virtue of his office, he was master in chancery. He served as prosecuting attorney for four years and acted faithfully in behalf of the people. He was appointed by Governor Baldwin judge of the Probate Court to fill a vacancy.

On January 12, 1858, Judge Ten Eyck was married to Marion E. Seymour, a daughter of John R. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Seymour, and a distant relative of Horatio Seymour; of New York. Mrs. Ten Eyck was the second white child born in Brandon, Oakland County, her birth occurring at Seymour Lake, May 23, 1837, her parents having settled there as early as 1835. She still resides at the beautiful family home on Orchard Lake avenue in Pontiac. She has one son, Harry Seymour Ten Eyck, who is married and lives in Pontiac; for a number of years he was engaged as a mail clerk, running between Detroit and Chicago, but he now has a run between Detroit and Grand Haven. Judge Ten Eyck gave considerable attention to politics, being ever a stanch Republican. He was a most excellent gentleman and commanded the respect and esteem of all with whom he was associated and acquainted.