Clarence Tinker, a prominent and able young attorney and prominent citizen of Fenton, was born in Port Gibson, Ontario County, N.Y., July 14, 1853. His father, Dr. Malachi Tinker, was a native of Henrietta, Monroe County, , N.Y., and graduate of the Geneva Medical College in 1847. After practicing at Port Gibson he removed to Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1859 and after practicing there for three years, located one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hazelton Township, Shiawassee County, upon which he remained until his death in 1887 at the age of sixty-eight years. He became totally blind six years before his death and his health was otherwise much impaired through exposures when answering the calls of neighbors in their affliction.
The grandfather, James Tinker, who served in the War of 1812, helped raise the first house which was built where the city of Rochester now stands. He was a sea-faring man but during the latter part of his life was devoted to farming. The first progenitor of this family is said to have been Stephen Tinker who came in the “Mayflower” to the New World.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Harriet Culver and she was a native of Pittsford, Monroe County, N.Y., and is still living. Her three children are Adelbert, Clarence, and Oania L. The eldest son is farming upon the old homestead in Hazleton Township, Shiawassee County, and the daughter is the wife of John Collord, of Coldwater.
After studying in the district school our subject took a three years’ course at the Corunna High School and then graduated form the law department of the Michigan University in 1876. He practiced his profession at Ypsilanti until February, 1880 since which time he has pursued his profession in Fenton, meeting with splendid success.
The young attorney has gained considerable renown lately in the case of the people vs. Howes, and he is the attorney for the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railroad, for the village of Fenton, State Bank of Fenton, and the Fenton Electric Light Company. On the 8th of December 1879, he was united in marriage with Hattie J. Perry, a native of Fenton. Their children were Clarence J., born April 8, 1889, and Earl R., who was born October 29, 1890.
Mr. Tinker has always been a Democrat and has since 1880 attended every State convention with the exception of last year when he was detained at home on account of illness and he has been School Inspector of the township of Fenton and a member of the Board of Education and Secretary of the same. In 1888 and 1890 he was offered the nomination for member of Congress but refused most decidedly to run. He is Chairman of the Democratic County Committee and is connected with the Masonic order, the Knights of Templar and the Knights of the Maccabees as well as the Royal Arcanum. In May, 1880, he formed a partnership with C.H. Phillips, who the following year disposed of his business to D. S. Frackleton, so that the firm is now Tinker & Frackleton. Mr. Tinker practiced in the Supreme Court of the State as well as in the courts of Genesee and adjoining counties. He is a prominent stock-holder in the State Bank and the Electric Light and Power Company and owns a small farm adjoining the corporation of Fenton.
Source: Chapman Brothers. Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan. Chicago: Chapman brothers, 1892.