John Wayne Champlin was born on February 7, 1831. He was a descendant in the direct line of Geoffrey Champlin, who, coming from England to Rhode Island, settled at Newport. John's father, Jeffrey Champlin, married Ellis Champlin, a member of a collateral branch of the family, and resided at Kingston, Ulster County, where John was born.
Education
Shortly afterward the family moved to a farm at Harpersfield, Delaware County, where John spent his early youth, attending the village school in winter and working on the farm in the summer. In 1844 he went to Stamford Grammar School, proceeding later to Rhinebeck and Harpersfield Academies, and then taking a course of civil engineering at Delaware Literary Institute, Franklin.
Career
In 1852 he began to practise as a civil engineer in Delaware County but two years later, seeking a wider field, joined his brother Stephen G. Champlin and took up the study of law in the latter's office. On his admission to the Michigan bar in June 1855 he commenced practise in Grand Rapids, with which city he continued associated for the remainder of his life. Evincing at the outset a deep interest in municipal problems he was retained in 1856 to draft the charter of the City of Grand Rapids which was passed by the legislature in the following year. Champlin was also appointed city solicitor in 1857, continuing as such for three years, in the course of which he became recognized as the leading authority in the state on the subject of municipal law and practise. He retired in 1861 and became judge of the recorder's court of Grand Rapids, retaining that position for two years. In 1863 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the position of circuit judge, but in 1864 was elected prosecuting attorney for Kent County and as such displayed great efficiency and impartiality. In 1867 he was elected mayor of Grand Rapids on the Democratic ticket. During his tenure of office he incurred great unpopularity by opposing the issue of bonds of the city for the purpose of bonusing railways, and failed of reelection, but was subsequently vindicated by the supreme court of Michigan which pronounced the city's action unconstitutional. In 1883 he was nominated by the Fusion party for the office of justice of the supreme court, was elected by a large vote, and took his seat on the bench, January 1, 1884. In 1892 he was appointed professor in the law department of the University of Michigan where he lectured on corporations and torts, but resigned in 1896. He died at Grand Rapids, July 24, 1901. In legal circles he was esteemed as a competent, conscientious, careful judge, though not distinguished by any deep learning except in relation to municipal law, in which he was an expert. His opinions were marked by extreme clarity of thought, and both at the bar and as a judge he was the essence of courtesy, exhibiting marvelous patience on the bench in listening to arguments of counsel. In his later years he abstained from active participation in public affairs.
Politics
Politically, he was a Democrat, but never extreme in his convictions, and he supported the Lincoln administration in its war measures.
Connections
He was married to Ellen, daughter of John B. More of Roxbury, New York.