Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Mary E. Chase, 10/28/1857, in Greenfield, MI; children: Andrew Gurdon, Eunice, and Una Brinker
Number of Children: 3
Background
Education:
Biographical Sketch:
He was the son of a wealthy cotton dealer and slaveholder. In 1830 he moved to Detroit, MI, and the next year to Dearborn, Wayne CO., where he spent a portion of his time teaching until 1851. From 1851-56 he went to California. On his return he was elected treasurer of Dearborn. He was a farmer until 1862. He held the office of enrolling officer of the draft department and deputy provost marshal during the Civil War. He was also deputy assessor and collector of revenue. Exempted from the draft by disability, he furnished a substitute at a cost of $800. He was a director of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad. He moved to Nankin, laid out the village. He was the first hardware merchant there. He was postmaster 5 years, president of the village, and trustee. From 1875-78, he had charge of the Wayne county poorhouse. He moved to Detroit in 1884.
Notable Facts:
Chairman on the Committee on Railroads.
His daughter, Una, was a well known actress.
In 1893, he was judged to be insane and sent to the Eastern Michigan Asylum in Pontiac.