USA > Michigan > Early history of Michigan, with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators > Part 15
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WILLIAM PURCELL,
Representative from Detroit in 1869-70, was a native of Ireland, born 1818. He died in 1880. Mr. Purcell was engaged in the foundry bus- iness, and was a man of character, conscientious in the discharge of his duties. He served his ward four consecutive terms, from 1861 to 1868, as alderman, was controller of the city June, 1870, to March, 1871. and was a member of the board of public works from 1876 to 1879. Was a Democrat politically.
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UTZZIEL PUTNAM, JR.
Was born in Pokagon, Michigan, August 12, 1826. He was the first white child born in Cass county, and was the son of Uzziel Putnam, a pioneer fariner. He received a good education, and graduated from the State University in 1853. He read law with E. C & C. I. Walker of Detroit, and was admitted to the bar in 1855, but practiced
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only a short time. He held the offices of school inspector, justice, and circuit court commissioner. He was Representative in 1869-70, and Senator in 1871-2. In 1874 he was appointed a member of the state board of charities, and held that position until his death, Feb. 10, 1879. He was president of the Cass county pioneer society, and took great interest in all matters of pioneer history. In politics a Republican.
JOHN RAIRDEN,
Senator from Wayne county in 1887, was born in Ireland, June 24. 1831. Came when young to Canada, moved to Toledo, Ohio, and from there to Detroit in 1843. Attended public and private schools, and learned the trade of chair painting and furniture finishing. He continued his studies, and acquired the German, French and other languages. Opened a night school in 1856 and continued it for sev- eral years. Was a teacher in the German-American seminary in 1864; from 1865 to 1867 was a letter carrier; since taught in private and public schools, and since 1874 been principal of a private school. Elected as a Labor-Republican.
STILLMAN RALPH,
Representative from Hillsdale county in 1837 and 1855, was born at Reading, Vt., Nov. 7, 1803. He received a common school education, and taught school several terms. He commenced the study of medi- cine in 1927, graduating at Waterville, Maine, in 1830. The same year he commenced practice at Canandaigua, N. Y. In 1835 he removed to Moscow plains, Hillsdale county, which was his home at the time of his death. He resided in Jonesville from 1840 to 1847. He was first a Whig but became a Republican in 1854. Died at Lan- sing, Feb. 18, 1855.
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JONATHAN G. RAMSDELL
Was born at Plymouth, Mich., in 1830, and was educated at Ply- mouth seminary and Albion college. Studied law, was admitted in 1857, and settled in practice at Traverse City in 1860, his present home. He is now serving his fourth term as judge of the 13th cir_ cuit, and has taken a leading position in the state as a fruit grower, and done much develop the capacities of the upper western shore of the state for the profitable cultivation of fruit. In politics a Repub- lican.
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NORTON R. RAMSDELL
Was a native of New York and removed to Ann Arbor in 1835. Be- fore coming to Michigan he had been a licensed exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal church, but studied law, was admitted to the bar, and came west to practice. He was regarded by his colleagues as a good lawyer, and one who excelled as an advocate. He was Representative in 1844. In politics a Democrat. Deceased.
THOMAS J. RAMSDELL
Was born in Plymouth, Michigan, July 29, 1833. He worked on his father's farm summers, attending school winters until eighteen years of age, when he became a student at Plymouth seminary, then at the state normal school. Read law in Lansing, and graduated at the national law school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1858. Was admitted to the bar in New York, returned to Lansing and opened a law office. In the winter of 1859-60 removed to Manistee, and engaged in prac- tice. He was a Representative in 1861-2. In 1867 formed a law part- nership with E. E. Benedict, and the firm of Ramsdell & Benedict is still in practice. In politics a Republican.
CALEB D. RANDALL
Was born in Conquest, N. Y., in 1831, and is a descendant of Wm. Randall, who settled in Scituate, Mass., in 1635. He removed with his father's family to Bronson, Mich., in 1835. He graduated at the Albany law school in 1855. He settled at Coldwater in 1857 and practiced law until 1871. He was Senator in 1871-2. It is largely through his efforts that the state school for dependent children was established at Coldwater. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1SS0. He has been president of the southern Michigan national bank of Coldwater since its organization in 1872, and for many years has been one of the state board of control of the public school at Coldwater. In politics a Republican.
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HARVEY RANDALL,
Representative from Calhoun county in 1867, was born in Sweden, N. Y., June 10, 1819. By occupation an insurance agent, politically a Republican. He settled at Tekonsha. Mich., in 1541. Was justice of the peace fifteen years, supervisor three years, enrolling officer dur- ing the rebellion, clerk of the Baptist church over thirty years, and held other offices. Died April 1, 1887.
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FRANCIS H. RANKIN
Representative from Genesee county in 1861-2-3 4, and Senator in 1877, was born in Creymore, Ireland, Oct. 29, 1818, and was educated at private schools and Belfast academy. He came to Pontiac, Mich .. in 1848, worked two years as a printer, and in 1850 established the Wolverine Citizen, now the Flint Citizen, at Flint, and has continued to publish and edit it until the present time. He was state prison inspector 1865-9; clerk and recorder of Flint 1871-7; and was post- master of Flint eight years. He was one of the commissioners ap- pointed in 1867 to examine into the condition of the prison and reformatory institutions of the state and report, which resulted in establishing the state board of charities. In politics a Republican.
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LEMUEL S. RANNEY,
Representative from Hillsdale county in 1875, was born in Ashfield. Mass., Jan. 17, 1831. He removed to Phelps, N. Y., in 1833, received a common school education, and in 1843 emigrated to Allen. Michi- gan. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and again in 1859. and in all spent ten years in various states and territories on the Pacific coast. He has been supervisor, and is by occupation a farmer. In politics a Republican.
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PEYTON RANNEY,
Representative from Kalamazoo county in 1883, was born in West- minster, Vt., Nov. 29, 1826, and became a resident of Kalamazoo in 1857. He had been a teacher in Vermont for eight years. Has been a wholesale and retail grocer, and lately largely interested in the grain trade. Has been alderman, and twice president of Kalamazoo. In politics a Republican.
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EPAPHRODITUS RANSOM
Was born at Shelburne Falls, Hampshire county, Mass., February, 1797. He was the second son of Major Ezekiel Ransom, a revolution- ary officer, his mother being a daughter of General Fletcher. a man that figured prominently in the early history of Vermont, and espe- cially during the protracted controversy with New York that preceded the admission of the former state into the union.
He accompanied his parents while still a young lad to Townshend. Windham county, Vermont, where he was raised to manhood, work -
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ing upon the rugged hillsides of the old Fletcher farm during the summers, and either attending or teaching school during the winters. With such preparation as he was able to make at the common district schools, he entered the Chester academy in Windsor county, Vt., then one of the most prominent literary institutions in New England. Graduating from the academy after four years' attendance, he entered the law office of Judge Taft, at Townshend, where he commenced the study of law, having for a fellow student the son of his preceptor, Alphonso Taft, now of Cincinnati, Ohio, and late attorney general of the United States. After two years' study with Judge Taft he en- tered the law school at Northampton, Mass., from which he gradu- ated with distinction in 1823.
After graduating from the law school Mr. Ransom returned to Windham county, where he had a successful law practice for some years, meanwhile, although belonging to the minority party in poli- tics, being returned several sessions as a member of the popular branch of the legislature of Vermont. In 1834, seeking a wider field of labor and better resources of soil and climate than his own state afforded, he emigrated to Michigan, then just beginning to attract considerable attention at the East. He reached the town of Bronson, now Kalamazoo, in October of the last mentioned year. The town was then merely a hamlet of not more than twenty houses of all descriptions, and a population not exceeding 100 souls.
He at once entered upon the practice of his profession, afterwards associating with himself the late Hon. Charles E. Stuart. The firm enjoyed a large and lucrative business until the admission of the state into the union in 1836, when he was appointed by Governor Mason judge of the 2d judicial circuit, and associate justice of the Supreme Court, being the first to receive a judicial commission under the con- stitution of the new state. The 2d judicial circuit at that time com- prised all the counties of the state west of Jackson, and the new judge reached most of his courts on horseback. the only practicable mode of getting about the country at that early day.
In 1843 Judge Ransom was promoted to the chief justiceship by Governor Barry, and continued in that position until elected governor by a majority vote of every county in the state in 1847. He occupied the gubernatorial position but one term. Differing with the majority of his party upon the slavery question and taking strong grounds in his second message in support of the Wilmot proviso, he failed of re- nomination aud was retired to private life. In 1853 he represented Kalamazoo county in the state legislature, and four years later, after serious reverses in fortune, emigrated to Kansas, having been
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appointed receiver of the Osage land office in that territory by Presi- dent Buchanan.
He died at Fort Scott, Kansas, in November, 1859, in the 63d year of his age, and his remains were subsequently brought to Kalamazoo, where they are buried in the Mountain Home cemetery at that place.
Governor Ransom was greatly interested in agricultural pursuits. The Michigan state agricultural society was organized during his gubernatorial term, and he was its first president. His farm, at one time among the finest in western Michigan, is now the site of the best portion of the city of Kalamazoo. He was among the first to interest himself in the introduction of blooded stock into the state, and to no one is the sheep and cattle interest more indebted than to Governor Ransom, whose flocks and herds were in an early day among the finest in the West.
In person Governor Ransom was tall and straight, of robust physique, and commanding and dignified presence. At all times approachable and simple in his habits of life he was popular with the people among whom he lived, and is still remembered by the old citi- zens of western Michigan with the kindest regard and esteem.
FLETCHER RANSOM,
Representative from Kalamazoo county in 1845-6, was born in Ver- mont in 1500. By profession a physician. He came to Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1536. He was elected as a Whig to the legislature, but later was a Democrat. Died June 3, 1867.
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JAMES W. RANSOM,
Representative from Kent county in 1975, was born at Liberty, N. Y., May 20, 1829. He was educated at the Wilson collegiate institute, N. Y., adopting the profession of the law. He removed to Michigan in 1853, taking up his residence in Grand Rapids, of which place he has been city attorney.
HENRY RAYMOND,
Representative from Bay county in 1959, was born at Woodstock, Vt. August 29, 1804, his ancestors coming to Massachusetts in 1654. He received a common school education. He came to Detroit in 1829. and resided there until 1:50, when he removed to Bay City at ! engaged in the manufacture of lumber. From 1962 until the close of the war he was a commissioner on the provost marshal board of the
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6th district. In 1868 he was appointed assessor of that district and served four years. From 1872 to 1884 he was a resident of southern California. He is now a resident of Detroit. A Whig until 1854, since a Republican.
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HENRY S. RAYMOND
Was born at Grosse Isle, Mich., February 23, 1838. His father settled in Detroit more than fifty years ago, removing thence to Grosse Isle, and then to Trenton, returned to Detroit, and in 1851 moved to Bay City, where he took up his permanent residence and engaged in the lumber business, in which Henry assisted. Henry S. held the office of postmaster of that city from 1861 until 1810. He entered the army as second lieutenant 23d Michigan volunteer infantry, becoming captain the same year, and in 1864 receiving his commission as lieutenant colonel, being in command of his regiment for a portion of the time until the mustering out of the same in June, 1865. Returning to Bay City, engaged in business as a bookseller, stationer, etc., in which he continued until 1884. Was aide de camp upon the staff of Governor Jerome, ranking as colonel, and was appointed commissioner of insurance by Governor Alger, and was reappointed in 1887 by Governor Luce. .
HIRAM RAYMOND
Was born in Cohocton, N. Y., January 4, 1819. His father settled on a farm in Raisin, Lenawee county, in 1833, where the son commenced the life of a pioneer. He was supervisor of Raisin two years. In 1868 he removed to Tecumseh, and engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements. He was justice in Tecumseh four years, and was Representative in 1863-4.
MAHLON H. RAYMOND,
Representative from Jackson county in 1879, was born in Sharon, Mich., June 19, 1836. He received a good education. In 1959 he graduated from the medical department of the University of Michi- gan. He removed to Grass Lake and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1862 he was commissioned assistant surgeon of the twenty-sixth regiment Michigan volunteers, and in 1:63 was pro- moted to surgeon. He has been a member of the school board for twelve years, and was chosen president of the village. In politics a Republican.
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EBENEZER RAYNALE,
Member of the constitutional conventions of 1835 and 1850, and Sena- tor in 1835-6-7, was born in Hartland, Vt., Oct. 21, 1804. He studied medicine, and received the degree of M. D., in 1826, and shortly after settled at Franklin, Michigan, and became a successful and dis. tinguished practitioner. He married Eliza Cassidy in 1830. He was postmaster of Franklin under Jackson. He was the last surviving member of the first State Senate. He aided in organizing the first state medical society of Michigan. He settled at Birmingham in 1839. where he resided until his death, March 24, 1881. In politics a Dem- ocrat.
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GILBERT E. READ,
Representative in 1861-2-3-4-5, and Senator in 1877, was born in Lud- low, Vt., May 6, 1822. His father, Rev. Peter Read, was the first Congregational minister in that town, and its first representative in the legislature. He received a limited education, commenced teach- ing at the age of eighteen, and followed it for seven years in winter. In 1842 he came to Richland, Mich., which has since been his home. He is a prosperous farmer, and has also been engaged in the manu- facture and sale of lumber. He was first a Whig, a Republican since 1854. As a legislator he served on many important committees, and was the Speaker of the House in 1865. He has served several years as supervisor, and for three years was chairman of the county board. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years superintendent of its Sabbath school.
GEORGE H. READER,
Representative from Mason county in 1887, was born at Lyme-Regis, England, Nov. 4, 1853, He came with his parents to the state of New York in 1854, and with a high school education settled in Mason county, Mich., in 1874, taught school, worked in a factory, then in a store, and since 1892 has been a manufacturer of wooden bowls at Scotsville. In politics a Republican.
ALEXANDER H. REDFIELD
Was born in Manchester, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1805. He was well educated. spending three years in Hamilton college, and his fourth year in Union college. He read law with Gen. James Lawrence, of Onon-
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daga county, N. Y. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of New York in 1830, removed to Cass county, Michigan, in 1831, and en- gaged in the practice of law. He and Mr. Sherman were the only lawyers present at the first court held in 1832 by Judges Sibley and Woodbridge, under an oak tree near the public square in Cassopolis. He was interested with Sherman in the site of Cassopolis. He was the first postmaster in 1837. He was Senator in 1848-9 and 1857-S. He was a regent of the University of Michigan from 1844 to 1852. In politics a Democrat.
GEORGE REDFIELD
Was born at Duffield, Conn., Oct. 6, 1796. He received a common school education and one term in an academy, and at the age of twenty-five had a fine farm under good cultivation at Clifton Springs, N. Y. In 1822 he leased his faim and spent four years teaching in Georgia. In 1826 he returned to his farm, and in 1834 purchased eight hundred acres of land in Cass county, Michigan, removing there in 1835. He owned at various times ten thousand acres of land, cultivating himself eight hundred. In 1841 he was Representa- tive in the legislature; in 1842-3-4, Senator; in 1841, presidential elector; in 1845-6, state treasurer; in 1850, secretary of state, and the same year a member of the constitutional convention. Held no office . after 1850. In politics a Democrat. Died in the winter of 1997-5.
HEMAN J. REDFIELD,
Senator from Monroe county in 1875-7, was born in Leroy, N. Y .. Feb. 25, 1923. He graduated at Canandaigua academy in 1836. His education was further continued under his father, who was a teacher and a fine classical scholar. He removed to Cass county in 1850 and came to Monroe in 1858. His occupation was farming, and at the same time he was largely engaged in real estate transactions. He was president of the Monroe board of education seven years, and for four years was mayor of Monroe. A Democrat in politics.
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CHARLES P. REED,
Representative from Muskegon county in 1883. was born in Ingham county, Mich., July 26, 1844, where he resided until 1861. Enlisted August 27, 1801, in the 2d Michigan cavalry: re-enlisted in 1-64, and served during the war. Moved from Lyons to Berlin in 1866, and
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from there to Ravenna, Muskegon county, in 1873, where he has since resided, engaged in milling and lumbering. Has held the offices of town clerk and supervisor. In politics a Republican.
LUCIEN REED,
Representative from Ingham county in 1865, was born in Moriah, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1824. By profession a lawyer; politically, first a Repub- lican, now a Prohibitionist. He was clerk of Ingham county in 1861-2. Now engaged in practice at Mason.
MARSHAL REED,
Representative from Lenawee county in 1875, was born in Richmond, N. Y., Aug. 21, 1833. He received a common school education. removed to Michigan in 1855, and settled in Rome, Lenawee county. He has held the offices of school inspector and justice. His occupa- tion is that of farming. In politics a Republican.
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RASSELAS REED,
Representative from Shiawassee county in 1877-79, was born Oct. S. 1826, at Dryden, N. Y. He removed to Michigan in 1836, and settled in Vernon, in which township he now resides. He received a common school education. He has been supervisor of Vernon five terms, and has held minor township offices. His occupation is farming. In politics a Republican.
CORNELIUS J. REILLY,
Circuit judge of the third judicial district (Wayne county), was born in Wisconsin in 1848, received a common school and academical edu- cation, came to Detroit in 1867, was admitted to the bar in 1-71, elected judge in 1815, and resigned in 1880, on account of the then insufficient salary. He was the youngest man ever holding the posi- tion. From 1884 to 1887 was in practice in Detroit. He was re- elected circuit judge in 1887.
LAWRENCE T. REMER,
Representative from St. Clair county in 18;3-4-5. was born in Benton. N. Y., May 22, 1810. He received an academical education at Ovid.
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N. Y. In 1843 he emigrated to Michigan, and settled in the township of China, afterward changed to East China. He was supervisor of the town many years. His occupation was that of a farmer. In politics a Republican. Deceased.
GEORGE B. REMICK,
Representative from Wayne county in 1881-2, was born August 4 1846, in Lincoln, Maine. He removed with his father's family to this state in 1853, and has been ever since a resident of Detroit. He grad- uated in the classical department of the State University in 1866, and in the law department in 1868. He has, however, been in the active practice of his profession only since 1876. He is also interested in lumbering operations, having inherited some valuable pine lands from his father, the late Royal C. Remick, who died in the spring of 1878. In politics a Republican.
JOHN RENO,
Representative from Detroit in 1853, was a native of the then French province of Lorraine, born in 1807, and became a resident of Detroit in 1832. He was by trade a tailor, but became a retail grocer in Detroit many years ago. continuing in the business until his death, December 8, 1880. He filled at various times the local offices of city assessor, collector, and member of the board of education. A Demo crat in politics.
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THEODORE RENTZ,
Representative from Wayne county in 1887, was born in Switzerland, in 1837, and came to Detroit in 1850, attended the public school, and was subsequently employed as clerk. He then commenced business for himself and has continued it ever since, with the exception of two years-1860-62. In 1882 he was elected to the upper house, or board of councilmen, of the city of Detroit, in 1883 president and acting mayor of Detroit, term of office expiring in January, 15-7. He is now engaged in general merchandise trade. In politics a Democrat. , He was a delegate to the national convention at Chicago, when Cleve- land was nominated for the presidency.
GEORGE RENWICK
Was born in England, October 31, 1789, and came to America with his father's family in 1502. They settled in Gorham, N. Y. He
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attended school in Canandaigua, and taught winters. He learned the trade of a carpenter, which with farming he followed through the early part of his life. He was in service during the war of 1-12- 15. In 1817 moved to Greece. N. Y., and in 1828 came to Michigan and located land in Salem, Washtenaw county. He was the first supervisor and justice, which offices he held, several years. He was a member of the territorial council in 1834-5, and a Representative in 1839-40-1 and 1847. He was an old line Whig in politics. Died in June, 1863.
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JOHN RENWICK
Was born in Gorham. N. Y., May 2. 1803. He moved with his father's family in 1817. to Greece, Monroe county, N. Y. Attended school at Rochester, N. Y., and taught school winters. In 1824 he married Eliza Pratt, and in 1827 emigrated to Michigan, locating land in Salem, Washtenaw county. Two years later he sold out and located in Northfield, Washtenaw county. In 1833 he was elected the first supervisor, and held that office and that of town clerk for several years. He was captain of the first militia company organized in the town. He was Representative in 1850 and 1853. He was in politics a Whig. Died September 24, 1866.
ASA REYNOLDS
Was born in Schenectady county, N. Y., November 25, 1810. He removed with his parents to Avon, N. Y., in 1817, remained on his father's farm until 1834, and taught school in Monroe county. N. Y. In 1836 he removed to Rose, Michigan, and became a farmer. He was supervisor ten years: justice of the peace sixteen years: and in 1855 was a Representative from Oakland county. Of late years he resided at Fenton. In politics a Democrat.
EDWIN W. REYNOLDS
Was born in Shoreham, Vt., in November, 1820. He was left an orphan at the age of seven, but with self denial fitted himself for college, and graduated from the Western Reserve college at Hudson, Ohio, in 1846. He studied law at Akron, and practiced four years at Medina, Ohio. His health failing he removed to Mason, Cass county, Michigan, residing there until his death, October 15, 1:03. He was first a WIng. but became a Republican, and was a Repre- sentative in 1:59. He was also for many years supervisor of Mason.
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JOHN A. RICE,
Representative from Lenawee county, session of 1846, was born in Cambridge, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1806, and died Nov. 6, 1871. He settled on a farm in Tekonsha, Calhoun county, in 1836, where he lived until 1842, then removed to Adrian, where, with the exception of two years, he was connected with the Michigan Southern railroad as ticket agent, or general baggage agent, during life.
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