Julius Coe Denison was born in New York and moved to Grand Rapids in 1855 where he was involved in agricultural and real estate activities. He and his wife, Cornelia C. Denison, spent the rest of their lives in Grand Rapids.
Their son, Arthur Carter Denison, was born in Grand Rapids on November 10, 1861. He received a LL.B degree from the University of Michigan in 1883 and soon became a prominent lawyer in Grand Rapids. In 1911 he was appointed United States circuit judge for the Sixth Circuit and also served as presiding judge of the Court of Appeals. He resigned his position in 1932 to re-enter law practice.
From the guide to the Denison family papers, 1848-1907, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)