Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 6
Gender: Male
Age at election: 54
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 4/22/1854
City: Ayrshire or Lochwinnoch, Scotland
County: Renfrewshire, Scotland
Country: Scotland
Death
Date: 1/9/1937
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 1/12/1937
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Woodmere Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Helen Downie, 1880; children: Nina (McLean)
Number of Children: 1
Background
Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: steamboat owner
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
grammar schools and business university
Biographical Sketch:
Of Scottish ancestry. He was a teacher in Scotland at age 13. He came to Detroit January 9, 1870, initially working for his cousin, William Livingstone, in the freight forwarding business at the foot of Randolph Street. He eventually took over the business, [1882] , remaining there for 38 years, operating steamboats between Detroit and Canadian ports, until the city took over the property for a lighting plant. Served as messenger, bookkeeper, gent and owner of that business. In 1921, he entered the garage business until he was elected to the Common Council in 1924. He served 2 terms on the Council and 4 terms on the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. In 1928, the Council appointed his its legislative agent. He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club and the Detroit Curling Club.
Notable Facts:
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Apportionment , Michigan State Prison , Railroads
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Michigan Employment Institution for the Blind , Michigan State Prison , Private Corporations , Railroads
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Detroit city
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Railroads , State Sanatorium , Supplies and Expenditures
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Railroads , State Capitol and Public Buildings , State Normal College
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of State Capitol and Public Buildings;
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Michigan Asylum for Insane , Railroads , Religious and Benevolent Societies
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Date Left Office: 12/31/1912
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Notes: Committee chairmanship: Religious and Benevolent Societies
Committees Served On: College of Mines , Liquor Traffic , Michigan Employment Institution for the Blind , Railroads
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: City of Detroit
Date Left Office: 1/1/1753
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
Manual 1917 p. 804; PolGryd; USCen 1930; Find-a-Grave.com, includes obit. wit portrait; DetNews 1/10/1937 p.30 col.1
