Ebenezer O. Grosvenor
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Oliver Grosvenor, Jr. (January 26, 1820 – March 10, 1910) was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan
.
and received a common school and academic education. From the age of fifteen to seventeen he was a clerk in Chittenango, New York
.
He moved to Michigan in 1837 and worked as a clerk with his brother for two years in Albion
. He was also a clerk in the state commissioner’s office in Monroe
from 1839 to 1840, and a clerk in Jonesville
from 1840 to 1844. In 1840, he became a charter member of the Odd Fellows
in Jonesville and passed all the chairs of that Order. On February 25, 1844 he married Sally Ann Champlin in Stillwater, New York and they had four children together. After returning to Michigan he became a merchant at Jonesville. In 1854, he established the banking house of Grosvenor & Co., in which he was president and manager. In 1855, he joined the Freemasons
and achieved the rank of Master Mason. He also regularly attended the Presbyterian Church.
until 1854 and in 1858 he was elected as a Republican
to the Michigan Senate
serving in 1859. In 1861, he was president of the military contract board and afterwards president of the state military board. Also in that year, he was commissioned a colonel
on Governor Austin Blair’s
staff and was also president of the state military board. He was again elected to the stated senate and served from 1862 to 1864 and served on the committee on finance in 1862.
In 1864, Grosvenor was elected the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
and served during Governor Henry H. Crapo’s
first term from 1865 to 1867. He was then appointed State Treasurer of Michigan
from 1867 to 1871 during Crapo’s second term and Henry P. Baldwin’s
first term.
Grosvenor served a member and president of the board of state building commissioners from 1871 to 1879. He then served on the board of regents at the University of Michigan
from 1879 to 1888. He was also long vice president of the Jackson & Fort Wayne railroad company and a director of some insurance companies and other corporations. In 1903, at the age of 83, he became a member of the Michigan Republican State Central Committee
.
Grosvenor's former house in Jonesville is now a museum.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
Grosvenor was born in Stillwater, New YorkStillwater, New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
and received a common school and academic education. From the age of fifteen to seventeen he was a clerk in Chittenango, New York
Chittenango, New York
Chittenango is a village located in Madison County, New York, in the United States. The village is in the south part of the Town of Sullivan. The population was 5,081 at the 2010 census.- History :...
.
He moved to Michigan in 1837 and worked as a clerk with his brother for two years in Albion
Albion, Michigan
Albion is a city in Calhoun County in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The population was 9,144 at the 2000 census and is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He was also a clerk in the state commissioner’s office in Monroe
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
from 1839 to 1840, and a clerk in Jonesville
Jonesville, Michigan
Jonesville is a village in Fayette Township, Hillsdale County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,337 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
from 1840 to 1844. In 1840, he became a charter member of the Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows is a name broadly referring to any of a large number of friendly societies, fraternal and service organizations and/or Lodges.-Societies using the name "Odd Fellows" or variations:...
in Jonesville and passed all the chairs of that Order. On February 25, 1844 he married Sally Ann Champlin in Stillwater, New York and they had four children together. After returning to Michigan he became a merchant at Jonesville. In 1854, he established the banking house of Grosvenor & Co., in which he was president and manager. In 1855, he joined the Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and achieved the rank of Master Mason. He also regularly attended the Presbyterian Church.
Politics
Grosvenor was a WhigWhig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
until 1854 and in 1858 he was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
serving in 1859. In 1861, he was president of the military contract board and afterwards president of the state military board. Also in that year, he was commissioned a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
on Governor Austin Blair’s
Austin Blair
Austin Blair , also known as the Civil War Governor, was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan...
staff and was also president of the state military board. He was again elected to the stated senate and served from 1862 to 1864 and served on the committee on finance in 1862.
In 1864, Grosvenor was elected the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
and served during Governor Henry H. Crapo’s
Henry H. Crapo
Henry Howland Crapo was the 14th Governor of Michigan during the end of the American Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction.-Early life in Massachusetts:...
first term from 1865 to 1867. He was then appointed State Treasurer of Michigan
State Treasurer of Michigan
The State Treasurer of Michigan functions as the chief financial officer for the U.S. state of Michigan. The State Treasurer oversees the collection, investment, and disbursement of all state monies, and also administers major tax laws, safeguards the credit of the state, and distributes revenue...
from 1867 to 1871 during Crapo’s second term and Henry P. Baldwin’s
Henry P. Baldwin
Henry Porter Baldwin , a descendant of pilgrim father Nathaniel Baldwin, was the 15th Governor of Michigan and U.S. Senator from the state of Michigan.-Early life in Rhode Island:...
first term.
Grosvenor served a member and president of the board of state building commissioners from 1871 to 1879. He then served on the board of regents at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1879 to 1888. He was also long vice president of the Jackson & Fort Wayne railroad company and a director of some insurance companies and other corporations. In 1903, at the age of 83, he became a member of the Michigan Republican State Central Committee
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
.
Death and Legacy
Grosvenor died at the age of ninety in Jonesville.Grosvenor's former house in Jonesville is now a museum.