John Tyler Rich
Encyclopedia
John Tyler Rich was a U.S. Representative from and the 23rd Governor of the US state of Michigan
.
just nineteen days after John Tyler
became U.S. President upon the death of William Henry Harrison
. In 1846, he moved with his parents to Addison County, Vermont
, and two years later they moved to Elba Township, Michigan
. He attended the public schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. On March 12, 1863, he married Lucretia M. Winship.
, 1869–1872. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1873–1881, and served as speaker of the house during the last two terms. He was also a delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1873, 1875, and 1878.
Rich served in the Michigan Senate
from January 1, 1881, until March 21, 1881, when he resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives
for the 47th Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Omar D. Conger
, serving from April 5, 1881, to March 3, 1883. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the 48th Congress
. He later served as State Railroad Commissioner
, 1887–1891, and a delegate to the Republican National Convention
s in 1884 to elect James G. Blaine
and 1892 to re-elect Benjamin Harrison
as U.S. President, both of whom lost to Democrat
Grover Cleveland
.
Rich served as Governor of Michigan
from 1893 to 1897. During his four years in office, a railroad strike, as well as an iron mine strike occurred. Also, three members of the State Canvassing Board were fired for falsifying returns on a salary raise vote for state officeholders.
After leaving office, he served as United States collector of customs at Detroit from February 16, 1898, to January 30, 1906. He was elected State Treasurer of Michigan
to fill a vacancy and served from January 23, 1908, to January 1, 1909. He was then collector of customs at Port Huron
from December 11, 1908, to May 30, 1913.
, and is interred at Mount Hope Cemetery of Lapeer, Michigan
.
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 in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Michigan
Rich was born in Conneautville, PennsylvaniaConneautville, Pennsylvania
Conneautville is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, along Conneaut Creek. The population was 848 at the 2000 census.- History:Conneautville was founded in 1814 by Alexander Power, a surveyor and engineer. Conneautville was first called Powerstown or made reference to as Power’s Tract...
just nineteen days after John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
became U.S. President upon the death of William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
. In 1846, he moved with his parents to Addison County, Vermont
Addison County, Vermont
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. In 2010, the population was 36,821. Its shire town is Middlebury.-Geography:...
, and two years later they moved to Elba Township, Michigan
Elba Township, Lapeer County, Michigan
Elba Township is a civil township of Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,462 at the 2000 census.- Communities :...
. He attended the public schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. On March 12, 1863, he married Lucretia M. Winship.
Politics
Rich was a member and chairman of the board of supervisors of Lapeer CountyLapeer County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 87,904 people, 30,729 households, and 23,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile . There were 32,732 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
, 1869–1872. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1873–1881, and served as speaker of the house during the last two terms. He was also a delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1873, 1875, and 1878.
Rich served in 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....
from January 1, 1881, until March 21, 1881, when he resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the 47th Congress
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Omar D. Conger
Omar D. Conger
Omar Dwight Conger was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the U.S. state of Michigan.Conger was born in Cooperstown, New York and moved with his father, the Rev. E. Conger, to Huron County, Ohio in 1824...
, serving from April 5, 1881, to March 3, 1883. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the 48th Congress
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
. He later served as State Railroad Commissioner
Michigan Railroad Commission
The Michigan Railroad Commission was an agency in the state of Michigan which regulated the operations of railroads within the state. It was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1873; in 1919 it was abolished and its functions transferred to a new body, the Michigan Public Utilities...
, 1887–1891, and a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s in 1884 to elect James G. Blaine
James G. Blaine
James Gillespie Blaine was a U.S. Representative, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Senator from Maine, two-time Secretary of State...
and 1892 to re-elect Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
as U.S. President, both of whom lost to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
.
Rich served as Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
from 1893 to 1897. During his four years in office, a railroad strike, as well as an iron mine strike occurred. Also, three members of the State Canvassing Board were fired for falsifying returns on a salary raise vote for state officeholders.
After leaving office, he served as United States collector of customs at Detroit from February 16, 1898, to January 30, 1906. He was elected 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...
to fill a vacancy and served from January 23, 1908, to January 1, 1909. He was then collector of customs at Port Huron
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
from December 11, 1908, to May 30, 1913.
Death
Rich died in St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and is interred at Mount Hope Cemetery of Lapeer, Michigan
Lapeer, Michigan
Lapeer is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Lapeer County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,841. Most of the city was incorporated from land that was formerly in Lapeer Township, though portions were also annexed from Mayfield Township and Elba...
.