John J. Bagley

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John J. Bagley
16th Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1873 – January 3, 1877
Lieutenant	Henry H. Holt
Preceded by	Henry P. Baldwin
Succeeded by	Charles Croswell
Born	July 24, 1832 Medina, New York
Died	December 27, 1881 Detroit, Michigan
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Frances E. Newbury
Religion	Unitarian

John Judson Bagley (July 24, 1832–December 27, 1881) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, as well as its 16th Governor.

[edit] Early life in New York and Michigan

Bagley was born in Medina, New York to John and Mary M. (Smith) Bagley. Bagley was initially raised in Lockport, New York. However, at the age of eight, he moved with his family to Constantine, Michigan. At age thirteen, he moved again, this time to the opposite side of the state - to Owosso, Michigan.

Bagley moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1847 as an apprentice and starting his working career in a small chewing tobacco shop of Isaac Miller. Bagley bought out Miller after seven years and renamed his store the Mayflower Tobacco Company, turning it into an industry leader that competed against other Detroit tobacco brands–at the time, tobacco was a major industry in Detroit.

[edit] Politics in Michigan

In 1855, he won election to the Detroit Board of Education, a position he held three years, by which time he had helped found the Republican Party. He also served as an alderman in Detroit. On Jan. 16, 1855, he married in Dubuque, Iowa to Frances E. Newberry, daughter of Rev. Samuel Newberry, a pioneer missionary of Michigan. They had seven children together.

Bagley also served on the Detroit Common Council from 1860 to 1861, and was a member of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners from 1865 to 1872. Bagley helped to organize the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company and served as its president from 1867-1872. During that time, he was also chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1868-1870.

Bagley served as Governor of Michigan between 1873 and 1877. He encouraged the establishment of a state commission to regulate railroads, dealt with the matter of juvenile delinquency, and led the effort to establish the state Board of Health and the state Fish Commission. Bagley, a Unitarian, was an enthusiastic supporter of prohibition and passed the liquor-tax law.

[edit] Retirement and death

Bagley died in San Francisco, California at the age of forty-nine, almost five years after leaving office. He was interred in Woodmere Cemetery of Detroit, Michigan.

[edit] References

• National Governor's Association
• Political Graveyard
• Memorial Library
• Bingham, Stephen D. [1888] (2005). "s.v. John J. Bagley", Early history of Michigan, with biographies of state officers, members of Congress, judges and legislators. Pub. purusuant to act 59, 1887. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library, pp. 55-56. Retrieved on 2007-05-02. 

[edit] External links

• John J. Bagley at Find-A-Grave