USA > Michigan > Early history of Michigan, with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators > Part 18
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
years, Gen. Schwarz lived the life of a retired farmer until his death in February, 1858. He was buried at Detroit with marked civic and military honors. In politics, democratic.
r JOHN SCOTT,
Representative from Detroit, session 1842, was born in Peterboro, N. H., in 1798, and came to Detroit in 1829. He was a mason and builder, and built the old city hall and market in Detroit in 1834. He subsequently became a wholesale grocer. He held at various times the local offices of city assessor, city marshal, and alderman. Was a Democrat in politics. Died in 1846.
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SAMUEL M. SCOTT,
Representative from Clinton county in 1846-8-50, was born at Stod- dard. N. H., June 29, 1814. He was a resident of Keene, N. Y., from 1815 to 1838, then coming to Michigan. He settled in the town of Essex, Clinton county, in 1841, and died in 1850. He held the offices of sheriff, county clerk, and register of deeds. He was also in early life a teacher, both in New York and this state.
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WINFIELD SCOTT,
Representative from Wayne county in 1873-4, was born September 22, 1819, in the town of Ovid, N. Y. He was educated at the Ovid academy. In 1842 he emigrated to Michigan and settled in Fairfield, Lenawee county. In 1845 he removed to the village of Plymouth, where he now resides. He was supervisor, and held other responsible offices. By occupation a farmer.
GEORGE SEDGWICK
Was born in Great Barrington, Mass., and came to Ann Arbor, as a lawyer, about 1835. He was judge of probate of Washtenaw county from 1840 to 1844, and was a Representative in 1850. He was a brainy lawyer, active and industrious, and as a man stood high in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He was the head of the law firm of Sedgwick, Gott & Walker. He went to Chicago early in the sixties and became a leading lawyer there. He was a Whig in poli- tics. IIe died in Chicago.
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MICHIGAN BICGRAPHY.
ELIJAH B. SEELEY,
Born in 1795, came from Warren, N. Y., in 1835, and settled on a farm in Pittsford, Hillsdale county. He was frequently called upon to fill town offices. He was the first supervisor in 1836, 1837 and 1838, and also held it in 1840 and 1849. He was a Representative in 1839. He was a founder of the .. First Presbyterian church of Bean Creek," afterwards the "Congregational church of Hudson," and an elder or deacon for forty years. He died April 10, 1876.
L. MCKNIGHT SELLERS,
Representative from Kent county in 1833-5, was born in Franklin county, Pa., July 2, 1849. He received an academical education. learned the trade of a printer, and settled at Cedar Springs in 1869. and founded and now owns the Cedar Springs Clipper. He was speaker pro tem. in 1885. In politics a Republican.
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ALONZO SESSIONS
Was born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, N. Y., Aug. 4, 1810. He received a fair education, and became at first a teacher, then a clerk for two years in Bennington, Genesee county. In 1833 he came to Michigan, locating land in Ionia county. He clerked at a store in Ohio one year, and afterwards taught school at Dayton, Ohio, until 1835. He settled on a farm in Berlin (then Cass), Ionia county, which always remained his home. He built the second log cabin in the town, and the first bridges across the streams between Saranac and Ionia. In 1837 he married Celia, daughter of Samuel Dexter, the pioneer of Ionia county. Ile was the first supervisor in 1853 of Cass (Berlin), and the chairman of the board of supervisors. He was supervisor eighteen times, and often chairman of the board. He was also justice several years, and sheriff of Ionia county in 1941 and 1842. He was Representative in the legislature from 1557 to 1863: then assessor of internal revenue for the fourth district for four years. In 1872 he was a presidential elector: and in 1876 was elected lieuten- ant governor, and was re-elected in 1878. He helped organize a national bank in Ionia, and was a director and president from 1-16. His farin comprised eight hundred acres, and was well cared for and valuable. He had a family of thirteen children. In politics a Republican. He died July 3, 1886.
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
WILLIAM SESSIONS,
Representative from Ionia county in 1873-4, was born in Marcellus, N. Y., May 2, 1821. He received a common school education. In 1837 he removed to Michigan and settled in North Plains, Ionia county. In 1871 he removed to Ionia, where he now resides. He has held several positions of trust in his township. By occupation a farmer.
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JULIAN M. SEWARD
Was born in Alexander, N. Y., in 1829. His father settled in Ber- trand, Michigan, in 1836. The son in early life worked at the clearing of land, farming, and cooperage, and had small opportunities for an education. He remained at home until 1854, afterwards married, and was postmaster of Bertrand for several years. He was sheriff of Berrien county from 1865 to 1869; Representative in 1869-70; twice assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Senate; and when sheriff was deputy U. S. marshal for western Michigan. In 1886 was engaged in the grocery trade at Jackson. Republican in politics.
JARED A. SEXTON,
A member of the House of Representatives in 1867 from Wayne county, was born in Dearborn, Mich., Sept. 29, 1838. His primary school education was supplemented by a term at the Normal school at Ypsilanti. His business has been that of farmer, merchant, and banker. He has held many local offices, and was sheriff of Wayne county in 1875-6. His present residence is Dearborn. Politics. den- ocratic.
ELISHA G. SEYMOUR,
Representative from Chippewa county in 1847, was born in Camillus, N. Y., May 25, 1817. By profession a lawyer. He settled at Detroit in 1840, where he was socially very popular. Later went to Sault Ste. Marie. Died June 18, 1850.
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HENRY SEYMOUR
Was born at Camillus, N. Y .. Dec. 16, 1821. He came to Grand Rapids in 1842. where he resided until his death, June 7, 1877. He was engaged in wool buying. In polities a Republican. He was a
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
prominent officer in the Congregational church and Sabbath school at Grand Rapids. He was a Representative in 1865, and Senator in 1867.
HENRY W. SEYMOUR,
Senator in 1885-7 from Chippewa and other counties of the northern peninsula, was born in 1834 in Brockport, N. Y. He graduated at Williams college in 1855, studied law, attending the Albany law school, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. He settled at Sault Ste. Marie in 1873, where he built a saw mill and cleared a farm. He is a prominent officer of the national bank, and president of the St. Mary's falls water power company. In February, 1888, he was nomi- nated and elected to congress to fill vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Seth C. Motfatt. In politics a Republican.
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JAMES SEYMOUR,
Representative from Genesee county in 1853, and Senator in 1957-8. was born in Litchfield, Conn .. April 20, 1791. From 1829 to 1:16 he was a resident of Rochester, N. Y., and was a merchant and banker. In 1836 he bought part of the land where North Lansing now stands, and also the site of Flushing, Genesee county. Removed to Flushing in 1846, where he resided until his death, December 30, 1864. He was active in securing the location of the capital at Lan- sing, and in promoting its growth and improvement. The Seymour house at North Lansing, the first hotel in the city, was built by hin. He was a polished gentleman of culture and refined manners. Politi- .cally a Republican.
EDWARD SHANAHAN
Was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1806, and lived in that state until 1832, when he came to Michigan, settling at Beardsley prairie. Cass county, where he lived until 1855, when he removed to Jeffer- son, same county. By occupation a farmer on a large scale. He was a Representative from Cass county in 1861-2.
HULBERT B. SHANK,
Representative from Ingham county in 1861-2, was born in Spring. port, N. Y., May 31, 1520. Hle became a teacher at the age of ei _:. t. een. He graduated as a physician from Geneva medical college in 1- 1.
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practiced two years in New York, then settled at Lansing, Mich., where he still resides. As a physician and surgeon he enjoyed a large and successful practice. A Whig until 1854, since a Republi- can. He was a delegate to the republican national convention of 1856. He was surgeon of the 8th Michigan infantry until compelled to retire from ill health, and then became examining surgeon for the 3d district until the close of the war. He was several years a mem- ber of the board of control of the state reform school; many years a member, and president of the Lansing board of education; president of the state medical society; and delegate to the national medical society.
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JOHN C. SHARP,
Senator from the counties of Hillsdale and Jackson in 1887, was born in Scott, N. Y., July 18, 1843, where he resided until May, 1863. He received his education at Cortland academy, Ilomer, New York, and at the normal school at Albany. In 1863 he removed with his parents to Brooklyn, Jackson county, Mich., where he remained upon liis father's farm for four years, spending the winters in teach- ing school. In the spring of 1867 he commenced the study of law in the city of Jackson, was admitted to the bar in 1869, and practiced his profession in that city until 1884, since which time he has been exten_ sively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was city attorney of Jackson in 1877, supervisor of census for the southern district of Michigan in 1880, and prosecuting attorney for Jackson county for 1881-2. He is a Republican, and received 9.132 votes to 7,104 for Abel N. Howe, fusionist, and 1,547 for Albert H. Stillwell, prohibitionist.
PETER SHARP,
Representative from Lenawee county in 1959, was born at Wills- borough, N. Y., May 14, 1812. His father removed to the Genesee valley, and later to Franklin county, Ohio, and the son became a traveling minister in 1532, by admission to the Ohio conference of the M. E. church, then including nearly all the territory of Michigan. After twenty-one years service as a minister, he settled at Ridgeway, Mich., as a retail dealer in drugs and groceries. A Whig until 1854, since a Republican. He was thirty years postmaster, also a justice. Ile still lives at Ridgeway.
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHIY.
DERWIN W. SHARTS,
Representative from Shiawassee county in 1877-79, was born in Oxford, N. Y., August 31, 1830. He graduated from Madison university, Hamilton, N. Y., in 1854, and from the Auburn theological seminary in 1857. Soon after the close of the war, having spent a portion of the last year at the front, he moved into Ohio, thence in 1871, to his present residence. He is a Presbyterian clergyman; was ordained by the Catskill presbytery in 1857, and has preached in the state of New York, in Cleveland, Ohio, and several years for the Congregational- ist church in Owosso. Having pursued the ministry for seventeen years, he retired from the work several years since for rest and recu- peration. In politics a Republican.
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GILBERT SHATTUCK,
Representative from Washtenaw county in 1837, was a resident of Ypsilanti. He was one of the stockholders of the "Huron River bank," a "wild cat" bank, started in 1838, which after a career of 18 months went down. No other information has been obtained of him.
WILLARD SHATTUCK,
Representative from Saginaw county in 1879, was born in Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 21, 1845. Ile received a good education and graduated from Goldsmith's Bryant & Stratton commercial college, of Detroit. He has held several township offices, has been justice, and county superintendent of the poor for several years. In polities a Democrat.
BRACKLEY SHAW,
Representative from Lenawee county in 1869, and Senator in 1881-2-3. was born in Plainfield, Mass., May 21, 1818, and removed with his parents to Ira, N. Y., in 1825, and in 1835 to Dover, Mich., where he still resides. Educated in common schools, and a farmer. Has held various political positions, and is a prominent agriculturist. Politi- cally a Republican.
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HENRY A. SHAW
Was born in Benson, Vt., June 21, 1818. He received an academical education, studied law in Ravenna. Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1839. In 1842 he removed to Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
he now resides. He was twelve years judge of probate for Eaton county, and has several times been president of the village of Eaton Rapids. He has always been a leading member of the bar in Eaton county. He was a Representative in the legislative sessions of 1857- 9-73-4. In 1859 he was speaker of the house, and was a recognized leader of the republican party. In 1861 he went into the army as major of the 2d Michigan cavalry, and served two years, He was for some years a director of the Grand River Valley railroad. For many years a Republican, but of late has acted with the greenback party.
JAMES SHAW
Was born in Berlin, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1813. He married in 1839, and in 1840 settled on a farm in Howard, Michigan, where he now resides. Was supervisor in 1844 and 1846, and Representative in 1845-7. By occupation a farmer, in politics a Democrat.
- JAMES SHEARER
Was born at Albany, N. Y., May 12, 1823, received a common school education, and when young became a clerk. In 1838 came to Detroit, and served as an apprentice six years to a builder, studying architec- ture, etc., under competent instructors. He then attended an acad- emy at Albany. N. Y., went south, and in 1846 supervised the build- ing of the state capitol at Montgomery, Alabama. In 1848 went into business at Detroit, as an architect and builder, and continued in that business until 1963, and was twice an alderman. Removed to Bay City in 1865, where he has been largely interested in manufactures. He has been president of the first national bank: president of the board of water works; from 1871 to 1878 one of the three commis. sioners for the building of the capitol at Lansing: and regent of the University from 1881 to 1888. In politics a Republican.
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JONATHAN SHEARER
Was a native of Coleraine, Mass., born Aug. 23, 1796. His early edu- cation was academical, with a partial study of medicine, law, and business. Hle settled in Plymouth, Wayne county, in 1836, and was a leading citizen of the county, serving many terms as supervisor. and as county commissioner, 1838 to 1811. He was Senator in 1542- 3-4, during the time of annual sessions and elections. He was a Rep-
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resentative in 1851, and of the constitutional convention of 1867. He was a leading agriculturist, an efficient member of the state pioneer society, and its president in 1876. He was politically a Democrat, but favored the greenback party in his later years. Died Sept. 26, 1851.
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FRANCIS W. SHEARMAN
Was born at Vernon, N. Y., June 20, 1817, and died at Marshall, Michigan, Dec. 7, 1874. He graduated from Hamilton college at the age of nineteen. He was employed by Hon. H. R. Schoolcraft to assist him in negotiating treaties with the Indians, and in that capac- ity first came to Michigan. He settled at Marshall in 1837, and soon found employment as editor of the Michigan Journal of Education the official organ of the state department of public instruction. In 1840 he became chief editor of the Democratic Expounder, published at Marshall, and that paper soon took a leading position as a demo- cratic organ. He was associate judge of Calhoun county in 1843-44. He was appointed superintendent of public instruction by Governor Ransom, March 28, 1849, and held the office under that appointment until 1851. He was elected to that office twice, and held it continu- ously until January 1, 1855, and made an able public officer. His report for 1852 attracted great attention, was widely distributed, and often quoted by educators. He returned to Marshall, became editor of the Marshall Expounder, which he held through life. He was also an acting magistrate for sixteen years. As a writer he was forcible. polished, independent, and aggressive.
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CHARLES P. SHELDON,
Representative from Van Buren county in 1853, was born in Water- town, N. Y., in 1817. By occupation a farmer, in politics a Demo. crat. He moved to Hartford, Michigan. in 1841, and was supervisor and justice for most of the time for ten years. In 1854 moved to Cedar county, Iowa. Held various offices there, and was a member of the Iowa legislature in 1868. He died at Tipton, Iowa, about 1879.
HORACE J. SHELDON
Was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1812. At the age of eleven he was sent to learn the tanners and curriers' trade, which he fol- lowed for many years. He prospected Michigan in 1833, and opened a boot and shoe shop at Blissfield in 1836. After a few months he
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
went to Grand Haven and established a tannery. After four years he returned to Blissfield, purchased a farm, opened another boot and shoe shop, and made that place his home. He was justice some thirty years. In 1867 he was a member of the state constitutional convention as a Republican.
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JAMES SHELDON,
Representative from Calhoun county in 1811, was born in Seneca county, N. Y., April 4, 1800. He moved to Michigan in 1833, select- ing and locating lands in Calhoun county. Settled at Albion in 1835 on lands which he owned and occupied up to 1860. He held the posi- tions of state prison inspector, justice, school director, and other minor offices. Business, farmer an l general merchandise, politically a Democrat. Died Nov. 9, 1866.
NEWTON SHELDON
Was born at Brutus. N. Y., July 9, 1810. Received a common school education. He settled on a farm in Lodi, Michigan, in 1832, where he remained until 1871. He was a Democrat, and held some public trust nearly all his life. He was supervisor, town clerk, justice and treasurer, and for many years secretary of the Washtenaw county agricultural society. He was a Representative in 1942-69-70. For nine years, from 1871 to 1880, he was secretary of the Washtenaw county mutual insurance company. He died at Ann Arbor, January 12, 1883.
TIMOTHY F. SHELDON,
Representative from Wayne county in 1839, was born in New York, July 31, 1797. He came to Michigan in 1826 and settled in Canton. Wayne county, where he continued to reside until his death, Sept. 15, 1869. He was prominent during the thirty years of his residence there, and was honored with the more responsible local offices. Was a Democrat until the time of the civil war, when he became a Repub- lican.
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ALANSON SHELEY
Was born at Albany, N. Y., August 14, 1800. His early life was spent on his grandfather's farm in Jefferson county, N. Y., and attending common schools. As a boy he took a timber raft down the St. Law- rence river to Quebec, and at 16 was apprenticed three years to learn
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
the trade of a mason, and became a foreman on the Rideau canal, Canada. He came to Detroit in 1831, and in 1832 built a stone light- house on Thunder bay, Lake Huron, the oldest now standing. He was a builder and contractor at Detroit several years, and later was interested in lumbering for the Black river steam mill company. In 1859 he became a partner with J. S. Farrand in the drug trade, and is still one of the firm of Farrand, Williams & Co. He was an active Whig in politics, but helped organize the republican party in 1851. He was an alderman five years, and Senator in 1867-71-2. He is a leading Presbyterian, and has acted as superintendent of a Sunday school for many years. He has always been a strong temperance man. He possessed great strength, and many stories are told of his prowess in his younger days. He still lives at Detroit, and is active mentally and physically.
JAMES M. SHEPARD,
Senator from Van Buren and Cass counties in 1879, was born in North Brookfield, Mass., Nov. 24, 1842, but soon afterwards removed to Bos- ton. He received a classical education at Wesleyan University, Conn., and studied medicine and dental surgery in Boston. During the war lie served in the medical department of the U. S. navy. In 1868 he located at Cassopolis, Michigan, where he engaged in publishing the Vigilant. In politics a Republican. For several years was private secretary of Senator Palmer.
LUMAN SHEPARD,
Representative from Eaton county in 1983, was born June 17, 1819, at Skaneateles, N. Y. He attended school until twenty-one years of age. He married in 1841, and the following year began farming upon land of his own, continuing until 1855, when he sold out and removed to Chelsea, Michigan, and engaged in farming one mile south of that village. Disposing of his farin he removed to Olivet, Eaton county, in 1872. In politics a Republican.
THOMAS SHEPHERD
Was born in Arygle, N. Y., May 19, 1821, and came to Martin, Alle- gan county, in 1$14, where he has since resided. By occupation a farmer. A Republican until 1831, when he joined the prohibition party. For five years supervisor, and for twenty years justice. Was a Representative in 1967. IIas also been the prohibition nominee for that office.
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
BENJAMIN SHERMAN,
Representative in 1835-6 from St. Joseph county, was born in Conn., in 1792. He settled in Genesee county, N. Y., and came to Nottawa Prairie, Michigan, in 1825. Before coming to Michigan he was a con - tractor on the Erie canal. In politics a Democrat. He was register of the U. S. land office at Ionia under the administration of Van Buren and also of Pierce. Died in 1872.
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ALONZO SHERWOOD,
Representative from Berrien county in 1879, was born in Lima, Ohio, April 22, 1832. His parents removed to Michigan the following Jan- uary, settling in Berrien county. Occupation, farming. He has held the offices of justice, supervisor, and school director. In politics a Republican.
-- GEORGE SHERWOOD
Was born in Amenia, N. Y., April 2, 1819. He moved to Cass county, Michigan, in 1833, and engaged in mercantile business with his brother at Edwardsburg. He was town clerk of Ontwa, county clerk 1844 to 1850, and Representative in 1851. He removed to Elkhart, Indiana, in 1852, where he was a merchant until 1862, and was county treasurer of Elkhart county. In 1865 he removed to Chicago, where he has been in business as a general commission merchant, and dealer in coal and wood.
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HARVEY C. SHERWOOD,
Senator from the counties of Cass and Berrien in 1885, was born at Jamesville, N. Y., Feb. 9, 1835. He received a thorough academical and scientific education, with reference to making farming his voca- tion; he graduated in 1853. In 1870 Mr. Sherwood and his family came to Michigan, and settled in Watervliet, Berrien county, on an unimproved tract of land which is now his home and called Lake View farm, containing 400 acres. and classed among the finest fruit and grain farms of western Michigan. Mr. Sherwood devotes his whole energies to farming and is enthusiastic in its pursuit. He was the democratic candidate for congress in 1886, but was defeated.
THOMAS RUSSELL SHERWOOD
Was born at Pleasant Valley, N. Y., March 28, 1827. Removed with his parents to Monroe county, N. Y., in 1831, and received an ava-
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
demical education. Studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1851. Practiced his profession at Port Jervis one year, and removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1852, where he now resides. He was in active practice until his election as justice of the Supreme Court in 1883. He was twice city attorney of Kalamazoo, and was repeatedly a nominee for prominent offices, including congress in 1878. In politics a Democrat, of late years a National. Received the support of the democratic and national parties as a candidate for judge.
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SETH K. SHETTERLY,
Representative from Macomb county in 1867-77, was born in Union county, Penn., October 15, 1820. He came to Utica, Mich., with his parents in 1833, where he still resides. By profession an attorney, in politics a Democrat. Has been a justice since 1854, and has been for ten years a circuit court commissioner.
CHARLES SHIER,
Representative from Washtenaw county in 1855-65-9-0, was born in the state of New York, January 30. 1805. He was for over twenty years a resident of Patterson, N. J., where he was engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. He came to Ypsilanti in 1845, engaged in farming, and resided near there until his death, January 29, 1883. In politics first a Whig, a Republican from 1854. He was a member and class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church for many years.
JOHN B. SHIPMAN
Was born in Saybrook, Conn., and can trace his descent from 1639. His father soon removed to Livingston, N. Y., where he received a common school education. Thence he came to Ypsilanti, Mich., where his father died, leaving him dependent upon his own resources. He studied law in Centreville with Chester Gurney, the abolition candidate for governor when Birney ran for president. Having been admitted to the bar in St. Joseph county, he has since been engaged in practice. He was prominent as counsel for the defendant in the Edmonds impeachment trial. In 1878 he was elected circuit judge by a combination of democrats and nationals. February 28. 1879, he was nominated by those parties as justice of the Supreme Court, and was defeated by Hon. James V. Campbell, the present incumbent. Resides at Coldwater.
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