Legislator Details
Epaphroditus Ransom portrait from Chapman (L) p.[124]
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Almire Cadwell of Vermont, 2/21/1827 in Montpelier, VT; children: Wyllys Cadwell; Antoinette Eugenia (Clark) and Eugene Beauharnais
Number of Children: 3
Background
Education:
common school; graduated from Chester Academy in Windsor County, VT;
law degree earned in Northampton, MA, 1823
Biographical Sketch:
Son of Ezekiel and Lucinda (Fletcher) Ransom. He was raised in Vermont. After law school he practiced law in Windsor Co., VT and served in the Vermont legislature for several terms. Moved to Kalamazoo, MI around 1834 to practice law; appointed circuit court judge, Assoc. Justice to the Supreme Ct., 1837; 1843-47, made Chief Justice; Pres. of the Michigan Agricultural Soc.; Regent of the Michigan University several times. Pushed for road development and for the development of the Upper Peninsula and Soo Canal. Moved to Kansas; 1857-59 acted as receiver of the Osage land office there until his death.
Notable Facts:
First justice appointed under the constitution of the era. Elected 7th governor of Michigan, 1847. First governor inaugurated in the new capital in Lansing.
First governor of Michigan to head both the executive and judicial branches of government.
Birth date varies by source; all are in the 1790s.
Died of typhoid fever.