John Treadway Rich

John Treadway Rich (April 23, 1841 – March 28, 1926) was an American politician serving as a U.S. Representative and the 23rd governor of Michigan.

John T. Rich
23rd Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1893 – January 1, 1897
Lieutenant	J. Wight Giddings Alfred Milnes Joseph R. McLaughlin
Preceded by	Edwin B. Winans
Succeeded by	Hazen S. Pingree
28th Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office 1877–1880
Governor	Charles Croswell
Preceded by	John P. Hoyt
Succeeded by	Seth C. Moffatt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 7th district
In office April 5, 1881 – March 3, 1883
Preceded by	Omar D. Conger
Succeeded by	Ezra C. Carleton
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Lapeer County district
In office 1873–1880
Preceded by	Horace D. Rood
Succeeded by	George Davenport
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 20th district
In office January 1, 1881 – March 21, 1881
Preceded by	Joseph B. Moore
Succeeded by	William W. Andrus
24th Michigan State Treasurer
In office 1908–1908
Governor	Fred M. Warner
Preceded by	Frank P. Glazier
Succeeded by	Albert E. Sleeper
Personal details
Born	John Treadway Rich (1841-04-23)April 23, 1841 Conneautville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 28, 1926(1926-03-28) (aged 84) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Resting place	Mt. Hope Cemetery, Lapeer, Michigan
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lucretia
Relations	Charles Rich (grandfather)

Early life in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Michigan

Rich was born in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, the son of John W. Rich and Jerusha Treadway Rich. John Treadway Rich's middle name is mistakenly given as "Tyler", perhaps because he was born 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.

Politics

Rich was a member and chairman of the board of supervisors of Lapeer County, 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 4, 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 Conventions 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.

Death

Rich died in St. Petersburg, Florida, and is interred at Mount Hope Cemetery of Lapeer, Michigan.

References

• "s.v. Hon. John T. Rich". Portrait and biographical record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola counties, Michigan. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library. 2005 [1892]. pp. 215–216. Retrieved March 11, 2007.

• United States Congress. "John Treadway Rich (id: R000208)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard
• National Governors Association
• John Treadway Rich papers, 1884-1914" Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan