USA > Michigan > Early history of Michigan, with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators > Part 6
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RANDOLPH MANNING
Was born in Plainfield, N. J., May 19, 1804, and died at Pontiac, August 31, 1864. He studied law in New York city. came to Michi- gan in 1832 and settled at Pontiac in the practice of the law. He was a delegate from Oakland county to the first constitutional conven- tion of 1835, and a member of the committee on judiciary, and, as such, was associated with Judge Ross Wilkins, William Trowbridge, Isaac E. ('rary, Robert McClelland and others. He was a State Sena- tor in 1837. In 1836 a court of chancery was established, and in 1842 he was chancellor as the successor of chancellor Farnsworth. This office he held for about three years, and filled it in a manner that reflected the highest credit upon him both for integrity and professional ability. At the organization of an independent Supreme Court in 1958, he was elected associate justice, and re- elected on the expiration of his term in 1861 and died while holding that position. He was a man of spotless integrity, sound discrimi- nating judgment, and of a capacity that enabled him to fill every office with honor to himself and advantage to the state. Judge Manning was secretary of state from 1538 to 1810. Hewas also a regent of the State University. In polities a Democrat, until 1-54. after that a Republican.
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
JOSEPH MANWARING,
Representative from Lapeer county in 1885, was born in Burlington county, N. J., in 1829. Removed with his parents to Avon, Oakland county, Michigan, in 1836. Received a common school and academical education at Rochester, Michigan. In 1852 he went to Dryden, where he entered into the mercantile business, in which he is still engaged. He was elected supervisor several years. Has served as township clerk at various times for five years. Was postmaster in 1861, and held that office until November, 1884. Has been a Republican since 1854.
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JOSHUA MANWARING,
Senator from Lapeer and Macomb counties in 1883-5, was born in Burlington county, N. J., October 2, 1824. He removed to Avon, Michigan, in 1836, and received a common school education. In 1845 went to the present site of Greenville and engaged two years in sawing and rafting lumber. In 1847 became a merchant at Dryden, Mich., and in 1850 built the Manwaring mill at Attica, and erected buildings at Dryden and Imlay City, carrying on a lumbering business. Now resides in Lapeer. Has been supervisor. In politics a Democrat.
PATRICK MARANTETTE
Was born at Sandwich, Canada, March 11, 1807, and died at Mendon, Mich., May 23, 1578. At the age of sixteen he superintended the Indian trading post for Peter and James Godfrey. In 1833 he became superintendent of the trading post at Nottawa. Mich., and was of great service to the government in the removal of the Indians from that reservation in 1840. He purchased a large farm in Mendon. In 1847 he was Representative in the legislature. He left an estate valued at $100,000.
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DANIEL P. MARKEY,
Representative from the counties of Crawford, Oscoda. Roscommon and Ogemaw in 1885 and 1887, was born in the township of Bunker Hill, Mich., June 27, 1857. Most of his early life was spent in Pinck- ney, Livingston county, where he pursued his studies, graduating at the school in that village and afterwards engaged in teaching for several years. In 1879 he removed to Ann Arbor, obtaining a posi- tion as book-keeper for a manufacturing company. He at the same
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time entered upon the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1881, in September of which year he removed to West Branch, Ogemaw county, where he still resides, and began the practice of his profession as an attorney. In 1881 he was appointed circuit court commissioner, and elected in 1882. In 1883 he was judge of probate. He was a Republican member and was re-elected for 1887-8 by a vote of 1,470 to 1,221 for J. Maurice Finn.
MATTHEW MARKEY,
Senator from Detroit in 1877, was born Sept. 13, 1820, in the county of Cavan, Ireland. He was educated in a common school. In 1838 he settled in Haverstraw, N. Y. In 1848 he removed to Springwells, Mich., where he resided until 1873, when he removed to Nankin. He has held several township offices. He was a Representative from Wayne county in 1873-4. He is engaged in the manufacture of brick and in farming.
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GILES B. MARKHAM.
Representative from St. Joseph county in 1877-81-2, was born in San- disfield, Mass., March 2, 1828. He came with his parents to White Pigeon, Mich., in 1835, and received his education at a branch of the State University at that place. By occupation a farmer. He spent five years in California. He was twice elected supervisor of White Pigeon town. In politics a Republican.
THOMAS MARS,
Senator from Berrien county in 1981-2, was born in Giles county, Va., May 4, 1829. In the same year the family moved to Berrien town- ship, Mich., his present home. He was raised on a farm, working in the summer and attending district school in the winter. At the age of twenty he served a year's apprenticeship at the carpenter and joiner's trade, at which he worked ten years, securing quite a com- petence. In 1957 he went to Kansas, spending two summers there, and then went to Missouri, where he purchased an interest in a saw- mill. When the war broke out the rebels burnt his mill and his debtors all went into the rebel army, leaving him nearly financially ruined. Having returned to Berrien county in 1961, he purchased 120 acres of land and a steain saw-mill located thereon. He has tilled
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various offices of trust and honor. He has been president of the Ber- rien county agricultural society two terms, president of the Berrien county pioneer society, and chairman of the executive committee of the state grange. In politics a Republican.
ISAAC MARSTON
Was born at Poyntzpass, county Armagh, Ireland, January 2, 1839. His father, Thomas Marston, was a small landed proprietor, of Eng- lish descent. His mother maintained and educated her children after their father's death. She apprenticed Isaac, at the age of thir- teen, to a grocer, with whom he remained three years. In 1856 he emigrated to the United States, and went to work upon a farm in Southfield, Oakland connty, Michigan, attending school about two months. In 1859 he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, and graduated in 1861. IIe practiced law for six months at Alma, Gratiot county, where he lost his office and library by fire. He then practiced for a little while at Ithaca, and in 1862 removed to Bay City, his present home. While there he was elected justice of the peace, prosecuting attorney, and city attorney. In 1872 he was elected Representative in the state legislature, to fill vacancy, for the extra session of that year. In 1874 he was appointed attorney gen- eral by Governor Bagley, to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Byron D. Ball. He held the office nine months, and dispatched more business than had ever before been done in that office in an equal length of time. In April, 1875, he was elected justice of the Supreme Court, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Judge Christiancy to the United States Senate. He was baptized into the church of Englan 1, but attended the Presbyterian church. He has always been a Republican. He was re-elected justice in 1881, but resigned in 1883, and is now engaged in a lucrative law practice in Detroit.
E. BROOX MARTIN,
Representative from Osceola county in 1881-2-3, was born in Oakland county, Mich., Aug. 12, 1841. Received a collegiate education, and in 1862 engaged in the milling business. After a few years became a resident of Battle Creek, then of Detroit, and in 1877 of Reed City. Is still in the milling business. Politically a Republican.
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GEORGE MARTIN,
Representative from Wayne county in 1851, was born in the state of New York, July 9, 1819. He came to Michigan with his father's fam - ily in 1824. He has held the position of deputy collector of customs, and the offices of supervisor and justice. He is by occupation a farmer, is a Democrat in politics, and resides in Grosse Pointe.
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GEORGE MARTIN
Was born in Middlebury, Vt., in 1815. He graduated at Middlebury college, studied law, and was admitted in 1836, and the same year commenced practice at Grand Rapids, Mich., and soon took high rank in the profession. He was appointed judge of the 6th circuit to fill vacancy caused by the death of Judge Mundy, and in 1852 elected to that position for six years. In 1857 he was elected chief justice of the Supreme Court. In the allotment of terms he drew the shortest, of two years, and was again chief justice for eight years in 1959, holding the position until his death, December 15, 1867. He was a Republican, and helped give the Supreme Court its high standing with the bar of this, and the courts of other states.
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JOHN MARTIN,
Representative from Wayne county in 1837, was a native of the state of New York, born 1785. IIe came to Michigan in 1824, residing thereafter, with slight exception, either in Hamtramck or Grosse Point until the time of his death, May 1, 1848. He was captain of a company of New York militia, and was engaged at the sortie of Fort Erie in 1814, receiving wounds by reason of which he drew a govern- ment pension. He was the first keeper of the Windmill Point light- house at the foot of Lake St. Clair. He was the father of fourteen children, was a farmer by occupation, and a Democrat in politics.
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MORTIMER B. MARTIN,
Representative from Shiawassee county in 1818-50, was born in Johnstown, N. Y., October 18, 1806. He received something more than an ordinary education, and became a clerk at the age of four- teen and at sixteen took entire charge of the business. At the age of twenty-one he became a merchant. He sold out in 1834, and was made the agent of a New York syndicate to purchase lands in the
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MICHIGAN BIOGRAPHY.
west. He spent two years in Illinois, but came to Michigan in 1836. In 1837 he bought lands in Antrim, Shiawassee county, where he resided until his death, September 26, 1834. He was a supervisor for sixteen years, and in politics a Democrat. He had a beautiful home, and entertained many men of distinction. The roses and flowers set out by him were the first ever planted in Shiawassee county.
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STEPHEN MARTIN,
Representative from Wayne county in 1877, was born at High Park, Ireland, December 26, 1821. He received a liberal education, pur- sued the study of architecture, and adopted the trade of a mason and builder. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to America, residing first in Brooklyn, N. Y., for eleven years. In 1849 he removed to Detroit and followed his avocation of a builder. He has been a mem- ber of the Detroit board of education: alderman for two terms; justice of the peace and director of the poor for the city of Detroit. He en- listed a company of volunteers and joined the sixteenth Michigan infantry as captain, participating in all the battles of the regiment until April, 1863, when, having become disabled, he resigned. In July, 1963, he received an appointment as captain in the veteran reserve corps, serving therein until he resigned in November, 1865. In politics a Democrat.
WELLS R. MARTIN
Was born at Hoosack Falls, N. Y., March 18, 1811. He was brought up a farmer, and came to Vermontville, Michigan, in 1838. He has filled many local offices, and was a Representative in the legislature of 1843. He has been engaged in farming, mercantile business and lumbering. He secured a competence and has always exerted a strong moral influence in the community. In politics a Democrat.
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ANTHONY L. MASON
Was born in Medina, N. Y., in 1826, and came to Galesburg, Mich., in 1848. His early education was that of common schools. He went into the dry goods trade at Galesburg, in which he continued until 1867. He removed to Kansas City in 1869, with a capital of $200,000, since increased to half a million. At one time while in trade he
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stocked three flouring mills, selling the flour east at a good profit. In politics a Republican. He was supervisor of Galesburg in 1857, and a Representative in 1867.
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HENRY MASON,
Representative from Monroe county in 1845. was born in Washington county, N. Y., August 10, 1791. By occupation a farmer, in politics a Democrat. He came to Monroe county in 1834, settled upon a farm, upon which he lived until his death, in June, 1878.
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H. M. MASON,
Representative from the counties of Delta, Chippewa, Mackinac and Schoolcraft in 1885, was born in the state of New York in 1841. He removed to Michigan in 1844; enlisted in 1861 in the 8th Michigan infantry, and served until the close of the war. Then engaged in the drug business at Flint. Politically a Republican.
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JOHN T. MASON
Was for a short time secretary of the territory in 1830-1, and acted a portion of the time as governor ex-officio. He was the father of Gov. Stevens T. Mason, and was born in Virginia, being the son of United States Senator Mason of that state, and of a distinguished family. He was in the territory but a few months. resigning to give his son the position he held. He was a general.
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LORENZO M. MASON
Was Senator from St. Clair and other counties in 1844-5, and Senator from Detroit in 1869-70. He was also a Representative from Detroit in 1863-4. Ile was born in Castleton, Vt .. in 1808, was educated at Castleton academy, studied law, and was admitted to practice in his native state. He came to Michigan in 1836, locating at Port Huron, and served a term or two as prosecuting attorney of St. Clair county. He located in Detroit in 1851. He served as police commissioner in Detroit 1865-69, and as inspector of the house of correction 1862-72. Mr. Mason did little or no law practice in Detroit, his tastes running inore to active business, mainly lumbering and banking. He was a clear thinker, of cheerful and even temperament, of kindly heart and firm principles. Polities democratic. Died in 1872.
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STEVENS THOMSON MASON
Was the son of General John T. Mason, of Virginia, and the grand- son of Stevens Thomson Mason, also of Virginia, who was a colonel in the revolution, a leading member of the Virginia convention of 1788, and United States Senator from Virginia, from 1794 to 1803. The mother of Governor Mason was a sister of William T. Barry, post- master-general under Jackson. He was born in Virginia in 1812. His father emigrated to Kentucky, where the son received his educa- tion. His father was secretary of the territory, and acting governor for a short time in 1830-1, and through his influence, the son was appointed secretary of the territory of Michigan by President Jack- son, although but nineteen years of age. As secretary he was ex- officio governor, during the absence of that officer, and much feeling was manifested, indignation meetings were held, and a deputation was sent to him to demand his commission to be returned to ' its source. To this demand he replied: "General Jackson appointed me with his eyes open, go home and mind your own business." The boy in years proved to be a man in thought and action, and repeatedly was acting governor, before the death of Gov. Porter, which occurred July 6, 1834. After that time he was ex-officio governor of the territory, and the people, taking upon themselves the right to organ- ize a state, without asking the advice of congress, elected him gov- ernor of Michigan, November 3, 1835, although the state was not admitted into the Union until several months afterwards. It was during this time that the fierce conflict arose between Ohio and Michigan, as to the ownership of a strip of territory belonging to Michigan, but over which Ohio attempted to exercise control. Gov. Lucas sent a force of militia to obtain possession, but they were met by a larger force headed by Gov. Mason and General Brown, and Michigan retained possession until a second convention of assent held at Ann Arbor, December 14, 1836, accepted the terms proposed by congress, gaining a large portion of the upper;peninsula. in lieu of the small tract in dispute.
Governor Mason served two terms, from November 3. 1-35. to January 7, 1840. During his administration occurred the great panic of 1837, bringing ruin to many pioneers, and closing the banks which had been started without paid-in capital, bringing to a termination the gigantic projects contemplated in canals, railroads and other internal improvements. These disasters were in part attributed to him, and at the close of his second term he was not'a candidate. but withdrew from political life, removing to the city of New York, where he was engaged in the practice of law until his death, January
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4, 1843. He was a man of ability, polished and genial, of fine per- sonal appearance, and was very popular. He was probably the youngest man that ever filled the position of governor, in territorial or state history, on this continent.
ALONZO T. MATHER,
Representative from Wayne county in 1841, was born in Moncton, Vt., May 13, 1802. He came to Detroit in 1836 and engaged in mer- cantile and manufacturing pursuits. He afterwards removed to a farm in Dearborn, and was among the leading and 'prominent citi- zens of that township until his death, July 8, 1846. He was for some years a deacon in the Baptist church in Detroit, and was father of Rev. A. E. Mather, a well known Baptist clergyman. Politics, Whig and Republican.
GEORGE MATTHEWS,
Representative from Ingham county in 1848, was born in Watertown, Conn., April 17, 1799. He came to Michigan in 1837, settled in the town of Meridian, Ingham county, and gave the name to the town. He was the first supervisor and held that position several terms. He built the first school-house, and was county treasurer four years. He built 23 miles of the Lansing and Detroit plank road, was elected its superintendent in 1853, and held the position seventeen years. He removed to Farmington, where he was president of the village board at the time of his death, April 20, 18:0. By occupation a clothier, politically Whig, then Republican.
LEVI C. MATTHEWS
Was born in Connecticut and removed to Colon, St. Joseph county, Michigan, in 1833. By occupation a farmer. Representative in the legislature of 1849.
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RUFUS MATTHEWS.
Representative in the legislature 1835-6, from Washtenaw county. was born in Connecticut, Oct. 10, 1791, was reared in western New York, acquired a common school education, worked as a carpenter and joiner, came to Michigan about 1831, and settled in Northfield as a farmer, helped organize the township, was for over twenty years
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supervisor and justice, and served a term as county treasurer. He died at Ann Arbor, Nov. 17, 1869. Politics democratic.
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THOMAS P. MATTHEWS,
Representative from Wayne county in 1853, was born in Middlebury, Vt., December 27, 1791. He was a man of liberal education, having graduated from Middlebury college in 1811, and from Fairfield medi- cal college in 1815. He was a Representative in the Vermont legis- lature in 1820. He came to Detroit in 1834, soon after removing to Redford, and establishing a medical practice which he followed successfully for thirty years. Died November 16, 1869. Politics. Whig and Republican.
BENJAMIN MAY,
Representative from Wayne county in 1865, was a son of Judge James May, a prominent citizen of Detroit in the early days. He was born in Detroit in 1815. Ile was a retail trader, and a resident of Springwells He seems to have contributed but little to local history, and has been dead for some years. Was a Den.ocrat in politics.
CHARLES S. MAY,
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1863-4, was born at Sandisfield, Mass., March 22. 1830. In 1834 he removed with his father's family to Richland, Michigan, and worked on the farm until fifteen, and then became a student of the Kalamazoo branch of the State Uni- versity. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He was in 1855-6 associate political editor of the Detroit Tribune, and later its Washington correspondent. He commenced practice at Battle Creek, but soon removed to Kalamazoo, and was elected prose- cuting attorney in 1860. In 1861 he resigned. raised a company for the second Michigan infantry, went into the field, but on account of ill health was compelled to resign after taking part in several battles. As lieutenant governor he was an able presiding officer. From 1856 to 1870 he was a leading republican speaker on the stump. In 1872 he supported Greeley for president, and acted with and spoke for the democratic party, but is now a political prohibitionist. He practiced law for a time in Detroit but is now in practice at Kalamazoo.
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DWIGHT MAY,
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan 1867-9, and attorney general 1869- 73, was born in Sandisfield, Mass., September 8, 1822, and removed with his father to Richland, Michigan, in 1834. He graduated at the University in 1849, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. He removed to Kalamazoo in 1852, and from 1855 to 1862 was prosecuting attorney, He was also school inspector, village trustee and president. In 1961 he enlisted as a private, and was elected captain of company I, 2d Michigan infantry. He resigned in December, 1861, and in October, 1862, was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 12th Michigan infantry, became colonel and was brevetted brigadier general. He married Amelia S. Kellogg in 1849. A Republican. Died January 28, 1880.
HENRY F. MAY,
Representative from Grand Traverse and Wexford counties in 1570, was born at Plymouth, Michigan, February 14, 1842, where he received a common school education. In 1872 he removed to Clam Lake (now Cadillac) and engaged in the mercantile business. He has been village treasurer, trustee, county superintendent of the poor. and a member of the Cadillac city board of education. In politics a Republican.
- JAMES MAY
Was born in England and settled at Detroit in 1778. He was honor- ably identified with the early history of the territory. He was a colonel of militia: was appointed chief justice of the court of common pleas about 1800, and held the position seven years. He died in January, 1829. A good portrait of him is found in Sheldon's "early history of Michigan." When the American flag was hauled down, at the surrender of Detroit by General Hull, he got possession of it. and hoisted it again when that city was surrendered by the British. He was the author of an interesting article on the condition of Detroit in 1778.
WILLIAM C. MAYBURY
Was born at Detroit, November 20. 1850. He graduated from the high school in 1866, and entered the class of 1870, in the Michigan University. He entered the law office of G. V. N. Lothrop in 1-70 and graduated in the law class of 1871 of the University. He was
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city attorney in 1875 and 1877. He was also lecturer on medical jurisprudence in the Michigan college of medicine at Detroit. He was nominated for member of congress in 1880, and defeated. He received the degree of "M. A." from the University of Michigan in 1881. In 1882 he was elected Representative in the forty-eighth congress. In 1884 he was re-elected to congress on the democratic ticket. At the expiration of his congressional term in 1887 he re- sumed law practice in Detroit.
IRA MAYHEW
Was born in Ellisburg, N. Y., in 1814. He received an academical education, and taught from 1832 to 1836. He was principal of the Adams academy 1837 to 1841, then superintendent of schools in Jefferson county, N. Y. He came to Michigan in 1843 and was principal of the Monroe branch of the University. By appointment he became superintendent of public instruction, and held it from April 17, 1845, to March 28, 1849. He was active and efficient in his duties, and in 1849 published a book entitled, " Means and ends of universal education." In 1851 published a treatise on book-keeping. In 1852 was principal of Albion seminary, and in 1854 was elected superintendent of public instruction, and was again elected in 1856. serving from 1855 to 1859, and in all holding that position eight years. He then established the Albion commercial college, which was removed to Detroit and successfully managed by him for many years. He was collector of internal revenue for the third district. 1862-5. Now retired. A Democrat until 1854, since a Republican.
AARON B. MAYNARD
Was born in Peru, Vt .. October 22. 1816. When young his parents removed first to Washington, then to Saratoga county, N. Y., and when he was eighteen, to Cambridge, Vt. He entered Middlebury college in 1836, and in 1837 the University of Vermont, at Burlington, where he remained two years. He went to Talbot county, Md., and was a tutor three years, returned to Vermont in 1811, studied law. was admitted in 1842, and opened an office in Richmond, Vt. In 1843 he married Julia Edmunds, sister of Senator Elmunds, of Ver- mont. He practiced law there until 1855, then removed to Michigan. and went into business at Detroit, and had a large and lucrative practice. IIe was U. S. district attorney for eastern Michigan for eight years, under President Grant, and is still in practice. He has a
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