USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 9
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In r824, he was appointed one of a board of commissioners for adjusting private land claims in
the Territory, and was engaged also in the practice of his profession, having the best law library in the Ter- ritory. In 1828, upon the recommendation of the Governor, Judges and others, he was appointed by the President, J. Q. Adams, to succeed Hon. James With- erell, who had resigned as a Judge of what is conven- tionally called the "Supreme Court" of the Territory. This court was apparently a continuation of the Terri- torial Court, under the "first grade" or "Governor and Judges" system. Although it was supreme in its ju- dicial functions within the Territory, its powers and duties were of a very general character.
In 1832, the term of his appointment as Judge ex- piring, President Jackson appointed a successor, it is supposed on political grounds, much to the disappoint- ment of the public and the bar of the Territory. The partisan feeling of the time extended into the Terri- tory, and its people began to think of assuming the dignity of a State government. Party lines becom- ing very sharply drawn, he identified himself with the Whigs and was elected a member of the Conven- tion of 1835, which formed the first State Constitution. In 1837 he was elected a member of the State Senate.
This sketch has purposely dealt somewhat in detail with what may be called Judge W's. earlier career, because it is closely identified with the early his- tory of the State, and the development of its politi- cal system. Since the organization of the State Gov- ernment the history of Michigan is more familiar, and hence no review of Judge W's career as Governor and Senator will be attempted. He was elected Gov- ernor in 1839, under a popular impression that the affairs of the State had not been prudently adminis- tered by the Democrats. He served as Governor but little more than a year, when he was elected to the Senate of the United States.
His term in the Senate practically closed his polit- ical life, although he was strongly urged by many prominent men for the Whig nomination for Vice President in 1848.
Soon after his appointment as Judge in 1828, Gov- ernor W. took up his residence on a tract of land which he owned in the township of Spring Wells, a short distance below what was then the corporate lim- its of Detroit, where he resided during the remainder of his life. Both in his public papers and private communications, Governor W. shows himself a mas- ter of language; he is fruitful in simile and illustra- tion, logical in arrangement, happy in the choice and treatment of topics, and terse and vigorous in expres- sion. Judge W. was a Congregationalist. His opinions on all subjects were decided: he was earnest and energetic, courteous and dignified, and at times ex- hibited a vein of fine humor that was the more at- tractive because not too often allowed to come to the surface. His letters and addresses show a deep and earnest affection not only for his ancestral home, but the home of his adoption and for friends and family.
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GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN.
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JOHN S. BARRY
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OHN STEWARD BARRY, Governor of Michigan from Jan. 3, 1842, to Jan. 5, 1846, and from Jan. 7, 1850, to Jan. 1, 1852, was born at Amherst, N. H., Jan. 29, 1802. His par- ents, John and Ellen (Steward) Barry, early removed to Rocking- ham, Vt., where he remained until he became of age, working on his father's farm, and pursuing his studies at the same time. He mar- ried Mary Kidder, of Grafton, Vt., and in 1824 went to Georgia, Vt., where he had charge of an academy for two years, meanwhile studying law. He afterward practiced law in that State. While he was in Georgia he was for some time a member of the Governor's staff, with the title of Governor's Aid, and at a somewhat earlier period was Captain of a company of State militia. In 1831 he removed to Michigan, and settled at White Pigeon, where he engaged in mercantile business with I. W. Willard.
Four years after, 1834, Mr. Barry removed to Con-
stantine and continued his mercantile pursuits. He became Justice of the Peace at White Pigeon, Mich., in 1831, and held the office until the year 1835. Mr. Barry's first public office was that of a member of the first constitutional convention, which assembled and framed the constitution upon which Michigan was admitted into the Union. He took an important and prominent part in the proceedings of that body, and showed himself to be a man of far more than ordinary ability.
Upon Michigan being admitted into the Union, Mr. Barry was chosen State Senator, and so favorably were his associates impressed with his abilities at the first session of the Legislature that they looked to hin as a party leader, and that he should head the State ticket at the following election. Accordingly he re- ceived the nomination for Governor at the hands of his party assembled in convention. He was elected, and so popular was his administration that, in 1842, he was again elected. During these years Michigan was embarrassed by great financial diffi- culties, and it was through his wisdom and sound judg- ment that the State was finally placed upon a solid financial basis.
During the first year of Gov. Barry's first term, the University at Ann Arbor was opened for the reception
JOHN STEWARD BARRY.
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of students. The Michigan Central and Michigan Southern railroads were being rapidly constructed, and general progress was everywhere noticeable. In 1842, the number of pupils reported as attending the public schools was nearly fifty-eight thousand. In 1843, a State land office was established at Marshall, which was invested with the charge and disposition of all the lands belonging to the State. In 1844, the tax- able property of the State was found to be over twenty-eight millions of dollars, the tax being at the rate of two mills on the dollar. The expenses of the State were only seventy thousand dollars, while the income from the railroads was nearly three hundred thousand dollars. At this time the University of Michigan had become so prosperous that its income was ample to pay the interest on the University debt ; and the amount of money which the State was able to loan the several progressing railroads was one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Efforts were made to increase the efficiency of the common schools with good results In 1845, when Gov. Barry's sec- ond term expired, the population of the State was more than three hundred thousand.
The constitution of the State forbade more than two consecutive terms, but he was called upon to fill the position again in 1850-the only instance of the kind in the history of the State. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature, of the Constitutional Conven- tion, and afterward of the State House of Represent- atives.
During Mr. Barry's third term as Governor the Nor- mal School was established at Ypsilanti, which was endowed with lands and placed in charge of a board of education consisting of six persons. A new con- stitution for the government of the State was also adopted and the "Great Railway Conspiracy Case " was tried. This grew out of a series of lawless acts which had been committed upon the property of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, along the line of their road, and finally the burning of the depot at Detroit, in 1850.
At a setting of the grand jury of Wayne County, April 24, 1851, 37 men of the 50 under arrest for this crime were indicted. May 20, following, the accused parties appeared at the Circuit Court of Wayne, of which Warner Wing was resident judge. The Rail- road Company employed ten eminent lawyers, in- cluding David Stuart, John Van Arman, James A. Van Dyke, Jacob M. Howard, Alex. D. Fraser, Dan- iel Goodwin and William Gray. The defendants were represented by six members of the State bar, led by William H. Seward, of New York. The trial occupied four months, during which time the plaintiffs exam- ined 246 witnesses in 27 days, and the defendants 249 in 40 days. Mr. Van Dyke addressed the jury for the prosecution; William HI. Seward for the defense.
The great lawyer was convinced of the innocence
of his clients, nor did the verdict of that jury and the sentence of that judge remove his firm belief that his clients were the victims of purchased treachery, rather than so many sacrifices to justice.
The verdict of " guilty " was rendered at 9 o'clock P. M., Sept. 25, 1851. On the 26th the prisoners were put forward to receive sentence, when many of them protested their entire innocence, after which the pre- siding judge condemned 12 of the number to the fol- lowing terms of imprisonment, with hard labor, within the State's prison, situate in their county : Ammi Filley, ten years; Orlando L. Williams, ten years ; Aaron Mount, eight years; Andrew J. Freeland, eight years; Eben Farnham, eight years; William Corvin, eight years; Richard Price, eight years; Evan Price, eight years; Lyman Champlin, five years ; Willard W. Champlin, five years; Erastus Champlin, five years; Erastus Smith, five years.
In 1840, Gov. Barry became deeply interested in the cultivation of the sugar beet, and visited Europe to obtain information in reference to its culture.
He was twice Presidential Elector, and his last public service was that of a delegate to the National Democratic Convention held in Chicago in 1864.
He was a man who, throughout life, maintained a high character for integrity and fidelity to the trusts bestowed upon him, whether of a public or a private nature, and he is acknowledged by all to have been one of the most efficient and popular Governors the State has ever had.
Gov. Barry was a man of incorruptible integrity. His opinions, which he reached by the most thorough investigation, he held tenacionsly. His strong con- victions and outspoken honesty made it impossible for him to take an undefined position when a principle was involved. His attachments and prejudices were strong, yet he was never accused of favoritism in his administration of public affairs. As a speaker he was not remarkable. Solidity, rather than brilliancy, char- acterized his oratory, which is described as argument- ative and instructive, but cold, hard, and entirely wanting in rhetorical ornament. He was never elo- quent, seldom humorous or sarcastic, and in manner rather awkward.
Although Mr. Barry's educational advantages were so limited, he was a life-long student. He mastered both ancient and modern languages, and acquired a thorough knowledge of history. No man owed less to political intrigue as a means of gaining posi- tion. He was a true statesman, and gained public es- teem by his solid worth. His political connections were always with the Democratic party, and his opin- ions were usually extreme.
Mr. Barry retired to private life after the beginning of the ascendency of the Republican party, and car- ried on his mercantile business at Constantine. He died Jan. 14, 1870, his wife's death having occurred a year previous, March 30, 1869. They left no children.
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GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN.
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ALPHEUS FELICH.
A LPHEUS FELCH, the third Governor of Michigan, was born in Limerick, Maine, Sep- teniber 28, 1806. His grand- father, Abijah Felch, was a sol- dier in the Revolution; and when a young man, having with others obtained a grant of land be- tween the Great and Little Ossipee , Rivers, in Maine, moved to that re- gion when it was yet a wilderness. The father of Mr. Felch embarked in mercantile life at Limerick. Hewas the first to engage in that business in that section, and continued it until his death. The death of the father, followed within a year by the death of the mother, left the subject of this sketch, then three years old, to the care of relatives, and he found a home with his paternal grandfather, where he re- mained until his death. Mr Felch received his early education in the district school and a neighboring academy. In 1821 he became a student at Phillips Exter Academy, and, subsequently, entered Bowdoin College, graduated with the class of 1827. Ile at once began the study of law and was admitted to practice at Bangor, Me., in 1830.
He began the practice of his profession at Houlton, Me., where he remained until 1833. The severity of the climate impaired his health, never very good, and he found it necessary to seek a change of climate. He disposed of his library and started to seek a new home. Ilis intention was to join his friend,
Sargent S. Prentiss, at Vicksburg, Miss., but on his arrival at Cincinnati, Mr. Felch was attacked by cholera, and when he had recovered sufficiently to permit of his traveling, found that the danger of the disease was too great to permit a journey down the river. He therefore determined to come to Michi- gan. He first began to practice in this State at Mon- roe, where he continued until 1843, when he removed to Ann Arbor. He was elected to the State Legisla- ture in 1835, and continued a member of that body during the years 1836 and 1837. While he held this office, the general banking law of the State was enact- ed, and went into operation. After mature delibera- tion, he became convinced that the proposed system of banking could not prove beneficial to the public interests ; and that, instead of relieving the people from the pecuniary difficulties under which they were laboring, it would result in still further embarrass- ment. He, therefore, opposed the bill, and pointed out to the House the disasters which, in his opinion, were sure to follow its passage. The public mind, however, was so favorably impressed by the measure that no other member, in either branch of the Legisla- ture, raised a dissenting voice, and but two voted with . him in opposition to the bill. Early in 1838, he was appointed one of the Bank Commissioners of the State, and held that office for more than a year. Dur- ing this time, the new banking law had given birth to that numerous progeny known as "wild-cat" banks. Almost every village had its bank. The country was flooded with depressed "wild-cat" money. The ex- aminations of the Bank Commissioners brought to light frauds at every point, which were fearlessly re-
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ALPHEUS FELCH.
ported to the Legislature, and were followed by crim- inal prosecutions of the guilty parties, and the closing of many of their institutions. The duties of the of- fice were most laborious, and in 1839 Mr. Felch re- signed. The chartered right of almost every bank had, in the meantime, been declared forfeited and the law repealed. It was subsequently decided to be constitutional by the Supreme Court of the State. In the year 1842 Governor Felch was appointed to the office of Auditor General of the State; but after holding the office only a few weeks, was com- missioned by the Governor as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resig- nation of Judge Fletcher. In January, 1843, he was elected to the United States Senate for an unexpired term. In 1845 he was elected Governor of Michigan, and entered upon his duties at the commencement of the next year. In 1847 he was elected a Senator in Congress for six years; and at once retired from the office of Governor, by resignation, which took effect March 4, 1847, when his Senatorial term com- menced. While a member of the Senate he acted on the Committee on Public Lands, and for four years was its Chairman. He filled the honorable position of Senator with becoming dignity, and with great credit to the State of Michigan.
During Governor Felch's administration the two railroads belonging to the State were sold to private corporations,-the Central for $2,000,000, and the Southern for $500,000. The exports of the State amounted in 1846 to $4,647,608. The total capacity of vessels enrolled in the collection district at Detroit was 26,928 tons, the steam vessels having 8,400 and the sailing vessels 18,528 tons, the whole giving em- ployment to 18,000 seamen. In 1847, there were 39 counties in the State, containing 435 townships ; and 275 of these townships were supplied with good libra- ries, containing an aggregate of 37,000 volumes.
At the close of his Senatorial term, in March, 1853, Mr. Felch was appointed, by President Pierce, one of the Commissioners to adjust and settle the Spanish
and Mexican land claims in California, under the treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo, and an act of Congress passed for that purpose. He went to California in May, 1853, and was made President of the Commis- sion, The duties of this office were of the most im- portant and delicate character. The interest of the new State, and the fortunes of many of its citizens, both the native Mexican population and the recent American immigration ; the right of the Pueblos to their common lands, and of the Catholic Church to the lands of the Missions,-the most valuable of the State, -- wereinvolved in the adjudications of this Com- mission. In March, 1856, their labors were brought to a close by the final disposition of all the claims which were presented. The record of their proceed- ings, -- the testimony which was given in each case, and the decision of the Commissioners thereon,- consisting of some forty large volumes, was deposited in the Department of the Interior at Washington.
In June of that year, Governor Felch returned to Ann Arbor, where he has since been engaged princi- pally in legal business. Since his return he has been nominated for Governor and also for U. S. Sen- ator, and twice for Judge of the Supreme Court. But the Democratic party, to which he has always been attached, being in the minority, he failed of an elec- tion. In 1873 he withdrew from the active practice of law, and, with the exception of a tour in Europe, in 1875 has since led a life of retirement at his home in Ann Arbor. In 1877 the University of Michigan - conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. For many years he was one of the Regents of Michigan University, and in the spring of 1879 was appointed Tappan Professor of Law in the same. Mr. Felch is the oldest surviving member of the Legislature from Monroe Co., the oldest and only surviving Bank Com- missioner of the State, the oldest surviving Auditor General of the State, the oldest surviving Governor of the State, the oldest surviving Judge of the Supreme Court of Michigan, and the oldest surviving United States Senator from the State of Michigan.
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GOVERNORS.
WILLIAM L. GREENLY.
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ILLIAM L. GREENLY, Governor of Michigan for the year 1847, was born at Hamil- ton, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 18, 1813. He graduatedat Un- ion College, Schenectady, in 1831, studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1834. In 1836, having removed to Michi- gan, he settled in Adrian, where he has since resided. The year following his arrival in Michigan he was elected State Senator and served in that capacity until 1839. In 1845 he was elected Lieut. Gov- ernor and became acting Governor by the resignation of Gov. Felch, who was elected to the United States Senate.
The war with Mexico was brought to a successful termination during Gov. Greenly's administration. We regret to say that there are only few records extant of the action of Michigan troops in the Mexican war. That many went there and fought weli are points conceded ; but their names and nativity are hidden away in United States archives
and where it is almost impossible to find them.
The soldiers of this State deserve much of the credit of the memorable achievements of Co. K, 3d Dragoons, and Cos. A, E, and G of the U. S. Inf. The two former of these companies, recruited in this State, were reduced to one-third their original num- ber.
In May, 1846, the Governor of Michigan was noti- fied by the War Department of the United States to enroll a regiment of volunteers, to be held in readi- ness for service whenever demanded. At his sum- mons 13 independent volunteer companies, 11 of infantry and two of cavalry, at once fell into line. Of the infantry four companies were from Detroit, bear- ing the honored names of Montgomery, Lafayette, Scott and Brady upon their banners. Of the re- mainder Monroe tendered two, Lenawee County three, St. Clair, Berrien and Hillsdale each one, and Wayne County an additional company. Of these alone the veteran Bradys were accepted and ordered into ser- vice. In addition to them ten companies, making the First Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, springing from various parts of the State, but embodying to a great degree the material of which the first volunteers was formed, were not called for until October follow- ing. This regiment was soon in readiness and pro- ceeded by orders from Government to the seat of war,
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Esaphroditus Rausour.
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GOVERNORS.
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EPAPBRODITUS RANSOM.
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HE HON. EPAPHRODI- TUS RANSOM, the Seventh Governor of Michigan, was a native of Massachusetts. In that State he received a col- legiate education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Removing to Michigan about the time of its admission to the Union, he took up his residence at Kalamazoo.
Mr. Ransom served with marked ability for a number of years in the State Legislature, and in 1837 he was appointed As- sociate Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1843 he was promoted to Chief Justice, which office he re- tained until 1845, when he resigned.
Shortly afterwards he became deeply interested in the building of plank roads in the western portion of the State, and in this business lost the greater portion of the property which he had accumulated by years of toil and industry.
Mr. Ransom became Governor of the State of Michigan in the fall of 1847, and served during one term, performing the duties of the office in a truly statesmanlike manner. He subsequently became President of the Michigan Agricultural Society, in which position he displayed the same ability that
shone forth so prominently in his acts as Governor. He held the office of Regent of the Michigan Univer- sity several times, and ever advocated a liberal policy in its management.
Subsequently he was appointed receiver of the land office in one of the districts in Kansas, by Pres- ident Buchanan, to which State he had removed, and where he died before the expiration of his term of office.
We sum up the events and affairs of the State un- der Gov. Ransom's administration as follows: The Asylum for the Insane was establised, as also the Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Both of these institutes were liberally endowed with lands, and each of them placed in charge of a board of five trustees. The appropriation in 1849 for the deaf and dumb and blind amounted to $81,500. On the first of March, 1848, the first telegraph line was com- pleted from New York to Detroit, and the first dis- patch transmitted on that day. The following figures show the progress in agriculture : The land reported as under cultivation in 1848 was 1,437,460 acres; of wheat there were produced 4,749,300 bushels; other grains, 8,197,767 bushels; wool, 1,645,756 pounds; maple sugar, 1,774,369 pounds ; horses, 52,305 ; cat- tle, 210,268; swine, 152,541 ; sheep, 610,534; while the flour mills numbered 228, and the lumber mills amounted to 730. 1847, an act was passed removing the Legislature from Detroit to Lansing, and tempo- rary buildings for the use of the Legislature were im- mediately erected, at a cost of $12,450.
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GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN.
120
ROBERT MCCLELLAND.
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R OBERT Mc CLELLAND, Governor of Michigan from Jan. 1, 1852, to March 8, 1853, was born at Greencastle, Frank- lin Co., Penn., Aug. 1, 1807. Among his ancestors were several officers of rank in the Revolution- ary war, and some of his family con- nections were distinguished in the war of 1812, and that with Mexico. His father was an eminent physician and surgeon who studied under Dr. Benj. Rush, of Philadelphia, and practiced his profession successfully until six months before his death, at the age of 84 years. Although Mr. McClelland's family had been in good circum- stances, when he was 17 years okl he was thrown upon his own resources. After taking the usual pre- liminary studies, and teaching school to obtain the means, he entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Penn., from which he graduated among the first in his class, in 1829. He then resumed teaching, and having completed the course of study for the legal profession, was admitted to the bar at Chambersburg, Penn., in 1831. Soon afterward he removed to the city of Pittsburgh, where he practiced for almost a year.
In 1833, Mr. McClelland removed to Monroe, in
the Territory of Michigan, where, after a severe ex- amination, he became a member of the bar of Michi- gan, and engaged in practice with bright prospect of success. In 1835, a convention was called to frame a constitution for the proposed State of Michigan, of which Mr. McClelland was elected a member. He took a prominent part in its deliberations and ranked among its ablest debaters. He was appointed the first Bank Commissioner of the State, by Gov. Mason, and received an offer of the Attorney Generalship, but declined both of these offices in order to attend to his professional duties.
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