Roger I. Wykes was born in Grand Rapids on September 6, 1874, and educated in the Grand Rapids and South Grand Rapids High Schools. He then taught school for two years before entering the Law School of the University of Michigan. He graduated in 1895, then in 1896 began the practice of law in Grand Rapids.
Over the course of his career, Wykes became a specialist in laws affecting railroads. From 1897 to 1904 he was with the Michigan Attorney General's office, in charge of litigation against railroads and other corporations regarding their compliance with state laws regulating rates and tax liability. From 1904 to 1906, he was assistant general counsel of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company.
In May, 1907, he was elected a delegate to the state's Constitutional Convention, where he served on the Committee on Finance and Taxation. From 1910 to 1911, Wykes was a member of the Grand Rapids Charter Commission. In 1912, he was a member and president of the Special Committee of Inquiry into Taxation Methods in the State of Michigan. That same year, he was appointed to fill out the un-expired term of the state's Attorney General. From 1915 to 1917, he was general counsel for the Association of Michigan Railways. During this same period of time, 1905-1920, Wykes was retained by the Attorney General as special counsel in railway, telegraph, telephone and express rate, tax and charter cases.
From the guide to the Roger Irving Wykes papers, 1889 and 1907-1938, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
