USA > Michigan > Early history of Michigan, with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators > Part 4
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NATHANIEL LANGDON,
Senator from Monroe county in 1865, was born in the state of New York, June 18, 1810. By occupation a farmer, in politics a Demo-
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crat. He came to Ida. Monroe county, in 1847, where he still resides. He has been supervisor of that town for twenty-seven years.
LEANDER LAPHAM,
Representative from Barry county in 1865, was born in Erie county. New York, October 8, 1819. He came to Michigan in 1830, lived in Wayne county seven years, and in 1837 settled upon a farm in the town of Maple Grove, Barry county, where he still resides. Has been fifteen terms supervisor. In politics a Republican.
CHARLES LARNED,
Attorney General of Michigan territory under Governor Porter. wa: born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He graduated at Williams college in 1806, and studied law in Kentucky with Henry Clay. While a student there he enlisted in Colonel Owen's regiment, which marched to the relief of General Harrison at Fort Wayne. He rapidly rose to the rank of major, and was in the battle of the Thames and other engagements. At the close of the war he engaged in law practice in Detroit, and became distinguished in the profession. As attorney general of the territory, he conducted the difficult negotiations that grew out of the Black Hawk war. He died August 13, 1834.
JAMES B. LARUE
Was born in Franklin, N. J., Feb. 6, 1800. He ran a paper mill in New Prospect, N. J. He came to Michigan in 1538, and took up lar_e tracts of land in Berrien county, near St. Joseph. He built a double saw-mill and improved a farm seven miles up the St. Joseph river. He had 1,000.000 feet of the best whitewood lumber piled up which all went to waste during the great depression, because it would not pay for shipping to Chicago. He went to California in 1949 with ox teams, working at gold digging a year or two, then negotiated with a Spaniard for two hundred acres of land near Oakland, opened a store and boarding-house, laid out the town of San Antonio, now a part of Oakland, was elected to the California legislature, organized a steam ferry company, and ran two steamers across the bay from San Fran- cisco to Oakland and San Antonio for several years. He died in 1972. leaving a valuable property. He was Representative in 1810 and 1841 as a Whig.
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HENRY B. LATHROP
Was born in Hanover, N. H., in 1808. In 1815 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and remained in that vicinity until 1834, then came to Detroit, where he followed the occupation of a mason and contractor. In 1838 was an alderman. In 1838 he removed to Jackson, where the state prison had been located on twenty acres of his farm. He donated the stone for the west half of the prison buildings. He was a Representative in 1840, and in 1847 was Senator. In 1849 he became a government agent, and traveled extensively through the states and Canada. In 1852 he went to California with a drove of horses, cattle. and sheep, and engaged in mining. He was the first man who made a success of carrying water by a wrought iron pipe thirty inches in diameter, crossing Feather river by a truss bridge, 1,081 feet below the head or inlet, thence rising 900 feet in a half mile so as to com- mand the mines. Against the predictions of engineers it carried 36,- 000,000 gallons of water per day for sixteen years. Hundreds of miles of pipe are now used for the same purpose. In politics, first a Whig, since 1854 a Republican. Now resides at Ionia.
HORACE N. LATHROP,
Representative from Lapeer county in 1853, was born at Norwich, Conn., March 9, 1805. He settled in Oregon, Lapeer county, Mich., in 1836, was the first supervisor of the town, and held that position several terms, also other local offices. By occupation a farmer and miller, in politics a Democrat. Died in May, 1871.
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W. IRVING LATIMER
Was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1836. He received a good common school education, and came to Michigan in 1859, where he soon took a prominent part in public affairs. During his residence in the state he has held the offices of deputy collector of United States revenue, postmaster, township treasurer, city treasurer of Big Rapids, and mayor of that city. He has always been a Republican. and was a member of the state central committee in 1876. While serving his third term as treasurer of Mecosta county, he received the nomination, by the republican state convention of 1878, for auditor general, to which office he was triumphantly elected. This was followed by a re-election in 1880. Mr. Latimer is now a resident of Lansing.
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DAVID L. LATOURETTE
Was born in Seneca county, N. Y., August 26, 1823. He came to Michigan in 1835, and was engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil and woolen goods, later became a banker and established a national bank in Fenton, of which he was president. He held various posi- tions of trust and responsibility, and was Senator from Genesee county in 1867, as a Republican. He died at Prescott, Arkansas, September 22, 1885.
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BENJAMIN LAUBACH,
Representative from Ottawa county in 1877-79, was born in Fishing Creek, Pa., October 8, 1823, and, with his parents, removed to Seneca county, Ohio, in 1836. He received a common school education. In 1853 he removed to Michigan and purchased and cleared a farm four miles north of Berlin, Ottawa county, upon which he has since con- tinued to reside. He has held the office of justice for fifteen years and supervisor for four years. and is largely engaged in the settle- ment of estates of deceased persons. In politics a Republican.
PETER E. LAWRENCE,
Representative from Jackson county in 1843, was born in Marcellus, N. Y., in 1907. He came to Michigan in 1837 and went into business as a merchant at Leoni. In politics a Democrat. He was postmaster of Leoni in 1838. Died in California in 1854.
SOLOMON L. LAWRENCE,
Representative from Branch county in 1851, was born in Weybridge county, Vt., March 1, 1811. By occupation a farmer. He came to Coldwater. Michigan, in 1836, removed to Iowa in 1856, and now resides in Wilton, Muscatine county. He was a Democrat until 1561. now a Republican. In Iowa has been justice twelve years, mayor two years. and has held other positions. He was for fifteen years chairman of board of school inspectors in Girard, Mich.
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EZRA D. LAY,
Representative from Washtenaw county in 1875, was born Dec. 6, 1:07, at Saybrook, Conn., and was educated at district and select schools. He removed to Michigan in 1533, settling on a farm in Ypsi-
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lanti, where he now resides. He was supervisor of Ypsilanti seven terms. He is by occupation a farmer, and has been president of the eastern Michigan agricultural society. In politics a Republican.
DEWITT C. LEACH,
Representative in congress from 1857 to 1861, was born in Clarence, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1832; received a public school education; came when young to Genesee county, Michigan; was a Representative in 1850; was a delegate in the constitutional conventions of 1850 and 1867; was state librarian in 1855 and 1856, removing to Lansing in 1855; was editor of the Lansing Republican some years; was elected to congress in 1856, serving two terms, from 1857 to 1861. He removed to Trav- erse City after 1861, and purchased and edited the Grand Traverse Herald for many years, and later went to Springfield, Mo., where he edited and published a paper. He was early a strong anti-slavery man, and has been a Republican since 1854.
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SIRRELL C. LE BARRON
Was born in Woodstock, Vt , Jan. 25, 1807. He was educated at Woodstock, and removed to Harrisburg, Pa., in 1825. He was dele- gate to the Clay convention at Washington in 1832. He removed to Tecumseh, Mich., in .832. He was the second clerk of Lenawee county in 1834 and held the office until Michigan became a state, and was the first county clerk under the state organization. He was a Rep_ resentative in 1840. A merchant for some years at Tecumseh. He opened the first grammar school in the county in 1832 and kept it until 1836.
HENRY LEDYARD,
Senator from Wayne county in 1857-8, was born in New York city March 3, 1812, and his early life was passed there. He was a gradu- ate of Columbia college and was admitted to practice as an attorney. His first official position was as secretary of legation at the French court under the ministry of Gen. Cass, and from this position sprang an intimacy with the Cass family which resulted in his marriage in 1839 to Matilda C., a daughter of Gen. Cass. On the return of the latter from Europe in 1844 he came to Detroit and assumed the man- agement of the large property interests of his father-in-law. He was alderman of his ward, 1849-50, was one of the first members of the board of water commissioners of the city, organized in 1853, and was.
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mayor of the city in 1855. He also served as a member of the school board, 1846-7, and his name appears in various business and philan- thropic enterprises. He removed to Washington and resided there during Gen. Cass' service as secretary of state, and for a short time discharged the duties of assistant secretary of state. He removed to Newport, R. I., in 1861. He was a Democrat in politics. Died in London, England, in 1880.
DANIEL L. LEE,
Representative from Oakland county in 1843, was born in Yates county, N. Y., in 1806. Settled as a merchant in Farmington, Mich., in 1836, and in 1839 purchased a farm in Novi and removed his busi- ness there. In 1844 became a merchant and farmer at Brighton. He was largely interested in lands. With Bush & Thomas he owned large property interests in Lansing. They built the Benton, now Everett, house in 1850. He was a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1850. Died Sept. 26, 1857.
GEORGE W. LEE
Was born at Greene, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1812. He received a common school and academical education and came to Livingston county. Mich., in 1836, and engaged in farming, and afterwards was a mer- chant at Howell until 1861. He was a Whig, but a Republican after 1854. Established the Livingston Republican in 1855. In 1ss was appointed a member of state reform school board of control. which he held for many years. He was a presidential elector in 1800. In 1961 he was appointed quartermaster, had charge of the equipment and transportation of Michigan troops during the war, and was promoted to colonel. Later was Indian agent for Michigan. Died several years since at Ypsilanti.
JAMES LEE,
Representative from Leelanaw and Benzie counties in 1575-7, was born in Yorkshire, England, March 10, 1816, and received a common school education. In 1532 he emigrated to Michigan, settling in Hamtramck, and engaging in farming and brickmaking. In 155- he removed to Bingham, Leelanaw county. He held several township offices, including that of supervisor for five years, and pursues the business of farming.
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JAMES B. LEE
Was born in Milo Centre, N. Y., April 14, 1819. By occupation a merchant, in politics a Democrat. He came to Michigan at the age of fifteen and was a clerk in the store of Thomas & Lee at Farmington. He removed to Brighton in 1842, where he was a merchant until 1877. He married Samantha B. Chadwick in 1843. He was Representative in 1869-70. He died at Brighton, Sept. 5, 1886. He was for sixteen years postmaster at Brighton, and held all responsible offices in the village corporation.
- JOSIAH LEE
Representative from Macomb county in 1841, was born in the state of Connecticut, June 24, 1781. Came to this state in 1832, where he worked two years and brought his family in 1834, settling as a farmer in Ray, Michigan. He was an early supervisor of that town, also a justice of the peace. A Democrat. Died Sept. 5, 1855.
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GURDON C. LEECH
Was born Feb. 8, 1811, in West Bloomfield, N. Y. He was a mer- chant of Palmyra, N. Y., from 1828 to 1830, when he came to Utica, Michigan. He engaged there in milling and mercantile business. He was Representative in 1841. In politics a democrat. He died at Utica, May 10, 1841.
PAYNE K. LEECH
Was born in West Bloomfield, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1809. He received a common school education and worked on his father's farm until 1830. He then came to Utica, Michigan, and engaged in milling until 1836, when he moved upon a farm in the same town. He was a Whig until the dissolution of that party. Has since been a Republican. He was a Representative mn 1516. Has held the office of supervisor several times. He is one of the veterans of the Toledo war.
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ANDREW J. LEETCH
Was born in the state of New York in 1930. In 1935 he removed with his parents to Canton. Wayne county, Michigan. Was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. Became a carpenter and joiner by trade and followed it for years. He was
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Representative in 1861-2. In 1865 he became a grocer at Ypsilanti, and in 1866 built a malt house and brewery. Has been supervisor and owns a large farm in the town of Superior.
- JOHN LEITCH,
Representative from Sanilac county in 1883, was born in Scotland, November 10, 1832. He moved with his parents to Canada in 1811, and settled in Elgin county. There he passed his boyhood and early manhood, He moved to Sanilac county, Michigan, in April, 1856. and settled on the farm, where he has continued to reside. He has always been a farmer by occupation, but held township and school offices the greater part of the time. Politically a Democrat.
ELIJAH LELAND
Was born in Mendon, N. Y., in July, 1804. He came to Quincy, Michigan, in 1834, bought a farm of 320 acres, and lived there during the remainder of his life. He was a Representative in 1957. He sent three sons to defend the union.
JOSHUA G. LELAND
Was born in Madison county, N. Y., July 19, 1805, and died April 27, 1876. He came to Michigan in 1831 and settled in Washtenaw county. and was a Representative in 1844-46. He was also president of the Washtenaw county agricultural society, of the farmers' insurance company, and of the county pioneer society. He was a successful farmer and business man.
JOSEPH C. LEONARD.
Senator from Branch county in 1933, was born at Smyrna, N. Y., Aug. 11. 1817. He was educated at Cazenovia, and Hamilton college. and settled at Union City, Mich., in 1842. He was postmaster there in 1846 and again in 1858. for twenty years trustee of village schools. and director of the Michigan Air Line railroad company. In politics a Democrat. At first a boot and shoe dealer, but for many years a farmer, also engaged in surveying and conveyancing.
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DANIEL LEROY,
Attorney General of Michigan, 1839-6. was born in Nova Scotia, May 17, 1775, and was educated there and at Binghamton. N. Y. He
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studied law and was admitted to practice at the age of twenty-five. He came to Pontiac, Michigan, and was the first lawyer admitted to practice at the Oakland county bar, July 17, 1820. He was prosecut- ing attorney of the county for several years and was chief justice of the county court from 1829 to 1833. He was a member of the terri- torial council in 1830-31, and a presidential elector in 1836. By appointment of Gov. Mason he was the first attorney general under a state government. He was a lawyer of ability and ranked high in the bar of the state. Late in life he retired from business, and died at Fenton, February 11, 1858. Politically a Democrat.
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JOHN P. LEROY,
Senator in 1840-41-31 from Oakland county, was born in Johnstown, N. Y., Sept. 22, 1804. He settled in Pontiac, Mich., in 1827: was for many years a justice. and served as county treasurer. He was a Whig and assisted in forming that party in Oakland county, and was a delegate to the convention that organized the republican party. Died August 23, 1867.
GEORGE S. LESTER,
Representative from Sanilac county in 1850, was born in Washington county, N. Y., March 4, 1812. Came to Michigan in 1840, and has resided at Pontiac, Lexington, Port Huron, and for the last twenty. four years at Alpena. Has been a lumberman. and built three steam saw mills, collector of customs, merchant and real estate dealer. and is now judge of probate in Alpena county. In politics a Republican.
AMOS LEWIS,
Representative from Oceana county in 1870, was born March 6, 1821. at Highland county, Ohio. He moved to Laporte county, Ind .. in 1836, and to Oceana county, Mich., in 1866, where he is a farmer. Politics, national.
GEORGE LEWIS,
Representative from Bay county in 1973-4, was born in Monroe. N. Y., November 8, 1827. He received his early education in common schools. In 1849 he emigrated to Michigan, and settled in Saginaw. In 1858 he removed to Bay City, where he now resides. He has been supervisor, and has held minor positions of trust in Bay county. Hi- occupation is that of a banker and lumberman.
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JOHN D. LEWIS,
Representative from Tuscola county in 1865, was born in Ellisburgh, N. Y., September 2, 1834. He was educated at Union college, and graduated from the Albany law school in 1861. He settled in prac- tice at Vassar, Michigan. From 1861 to 1868 he was principal of the Vassar union school. He held many local positions, including super- visor, circuit court commissioner and county superintendent of schools. He removed to Portsmouth, now part of Bay City, and was two years principal of schools there, later a merchant. Has been alderman, member of board of education, and in 1874 was Senator. Now resides in Florida.
- NATHANIEL W. LEWIS,
Senator from Allegan county in 1879, was born in Washington county, Vt., September 11, 1832. He received a common school edu- cation. In 1858 he removed to Calhoun county, Michigan. He en- listed as private in an independent regiment known as " Merrill's Horse," in 1862: was promoted through the grades to lieutenant: and was mustered out in the fall of 1865. IIe soon after removed to . Ganges, Allegan county. Occupation farmer and fruit-grower. He has held the offices of commissioner, clerk and supervisor. In poli- tics a National.
THOMAS LEWIS,
Representative from Wayne county in 1842 and 1846. was born in Sandwich, Canada, in 1807. settling in Detroit in 1819. His general pursuits were those of merchant and farmer. In 1836, in company with Richard Godfroy, he made a business venture at Grand Rapids, which was mercantile, milling and buying furs. The firm built a steamer, the Gov. Mason, the loss of which, with a cargo of furs, proved so disastrous that he returned to Detroit and located on Grosse Isle, where he owned and managed a farm, and was also interested in the fisheries thereabout. He was for many years a lead- ing citizen, and served his township as supervisor and justice. A Democrat in politics. Died October 19, 1897.
WILLIAM LEWIS,
Representative from Barry county in 1816, was born at Weatherfield, N. Y.,in 1802. He came to Yankee Springs, Michigan, in 1536. located a large farm, and built a hotel which became famous as
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"Yankee Lewis House." Few people of olden pioneer days failed to partake of the hospitalities of " Yankee Lewis." He was an enter- prising, active, ever busy pioneer, and did his full share in reclaim- ing the wilderness. Politically a Democrat. Died September 15, 1853.
LANSING E. LINCOLN,
Representative from Huron county in 1885-7, was born at Groton, N. Y., in 1842. He enlisted in 1861, and after his term of enlistment expired was sutler of the 148th N. Y. volunteers. At the close of the war went into business at Richmond, Va., and in 1867 in New York city. In 1871 came to Mason, Mich., and was first in the boot and shoe business, then engaged in shipping live stock. Since 1881 has been a resident of Huron county, farming and in the live stock busi- ness. He was wounded at Ball's Cross Roads, Va. He was elected as a Fusionist.
PETER LINDERMAN,
Representative from Ingham county in 1857, was born at Wallkill, N. Y., Oct. 5, 1795, and settled at Mason in 1836. A Whig until 1854, then a Republican. By occupation a farmer. He was the first super- visor of Vevay, postmaster of Mason, for many years a justice, and judge of probate for Ingham county. Died March 4, 1865.
WILLIAM S. LINTON,
Representative from Saginaw county in 1887, was born at St. Clair, Mich., Feb. 4, 1856. Received a common school education, was a book-keeper several years, then superintendent of saw-mills at Wells, Bay county. In 1579 engaged in the lumber business and planing mill business at East Saginaw, with his father and brother. Has been supervisor, an alderman four years, and held other offices. In politics a Republican.
WILLIAM E. LITTELL,
Representative from Oakland county in 1879-81-2, was born May 16, 1838, at Cayuga, N. Y. He was educated in a district school and an academy. Having come to Michigan in 1851, he settled at Orion. He served fifteen months in the seventh regiment of Michigan volun- teers, during the war. He taught school and held all the varions offices in his township except that of treasurer; was postmaster at
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Orion six years; justice of the peace sixteen years; supervisor fourteen years, and chairman of the board of supervisors of Oakland county.
CHARLES D. LITTLE,
Representative from Saginaw county in 1871-2-5-9, was born in Living- ston, N. Y., in 1823, and received a classical education. He came to Michigan in 1837, but in 1839 went to Canandaigua, N. Y., and stud- ied law. In 1842 became a law partner of E. H. Thomson. at Flint, and was judge of probate for Genesee county. Removed to Saginaw in 1850, practiced law until 1861, then went into the army as quarter- master of the 23d Michigan infantry, was appointed assistant adju- tant general on the staff of Gen. Granger, and held it until 1963. resigning from sickness. He was chairman of the Saginaw board of supervisors six years, and has held other local offices. In politics a Democrat.
FLAVIUS J. LITTLEJOHN
Was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in July, 1804. He graduated from Hamilton college in 1827, and delivered the valedictory address. He was admitted to the bar in 1830, and practiced in Little Falls. N. Y., until 1836, when on account of ill health, he removed to Allegan. Michigan, and for several years was engaged as a survevor. engineer and geologist. In 1812-3-8 and 1855 he was a Representative in the legislature, and was Senator in 1815-6, and president pro tem. of that body in 1846. From 1848 to 1858 he was engaged in the practice of law. He was elected judge of the 9th circuit in 1558, which then comprised twenty counties on the western shore, extending from Van Buren to Emmet. and served until 1865. In 1849 he was the whig and free soil candidate for governor against John S. Barry, and was defeated by 4,279 votes. He was at one time circuit court commis- sioner of Allegan county. He took great interest in education and temperance. He was an eloquent and logical speaker, an able lecturer. bore a spotless reputation, and wrote a volume of interesting Indian legends. He died April 28, 1880.
PHILETUS O. LITTLEJOHN
Was born in Litchfield, N. Y., Dec. 24, 1814. In politics a Democrat. He was a Representative in 1869-4. He is extensively engaged in farm- ing. As a young man he was a railroad contractor in Virginia and
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Maryland. He was justice fifteen years, member and chairman of the board of supervisors of Allegan county for thirteen years, and two years president of the village of Allegan.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, JR.,
Representative from Wayne county in 1875, was born in Dundas, Ontario, Jan. 21. 1842. He removed to Detroit in 1849 and now resides in that city. He received an academical education and learned the trade of a machinist. In 1861 he became connected with the shipping interest, and from year to year increased his investments in that direction until he was the owner of a number of steam vessels. He has also been largely interested in the lumber business. Mr. Liv- ingston has been president of Detroit street railroads. In politics a Republican. He was appointed collector of customs at Detroit by President Arthur, which he held for several years. He also published the Detroit Journal.
FIDUS LIVERMORE,
Representative from Jackson county in 1843-4, was born at Water- ville, N. Y., July 21, 1811. He learned the trade of a tailor and fol- lowed that business at Dresden, N. Y., until 1836, then studied law three years and settled in practice at Jackson, Mich., in 1839. He held the offices of justice, and prosecuting attorney two terms. He was a delegate to the democratic national conventions of 1860 and 1572, was a democratic candidate for elector in 1568, and the candidate of that party for congress in 1874 and 1876. From 1816 to 1867 he was senior partner of the law firm of Livermore & Wood. He was nine years president of the school board, and was commandant of camp in the organization of the 20th and 26th Michigan infantry. Politically a Democrat. Died May 22, 1880.
JOHN S. LIVERMORE,
Representative from Oakland county in sessions of 1839-42, was born in Sangerfield. New York, Jan. 12, 1801. By occupation a physician, in politics a Democrat. He located at Rochester, Mich., in 1830. He left there in 1548, and died at Ft. Wilkins, on Lake Superior, Oct. 4, 1861. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812.
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