Legislator Details
Portrait of Erastus Hussey scanned from Rep.Dist. 3 page previous to p.47.
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
Married Sarah E. Bowen, daughter of Benjamin & Lucretia Bowen of Cayuga Co. NY 2/21/1827; daughter Susan T. married Henry B. Denman
Number of Children: 1
Background
Education:
Biographical Sketch:
Arrived in Detroit 9/25/1824 after deciding the land was not fertile enough in NY, where many of his peers were buying; first buyer of land in what became Plymouth, MI in 10/1824, settled on the land 1827 and farmed it until 1836. Mr. Hussey moved to Battle Creek in 1838 and was instrumental in establishing free public education there. He was the Editor of the Liberty Press, which the postmaster refused to deliver on the ground it supported anti-slavery. The paper building and all its fixtures was destroyed by fire in Spring of 1849. He was a Whig with strong anti-slavery tendencies, but was soon dispelled when the Whigs were not as anti-slavery as he was. He joined and became a leader of the Liberty movement. After several terms in city offices, he was elected Mayor of Battle Creek in 1867. He favored education for every persons and his wife started the Ladies' Library Association in Battle Creek, MI.
Notable Facts:
Active in the underground railroad in Battle Creek assisting over 2,000 fugitives; introduced the Personal Liberty Bill that stopped fugitive slaves from being kidnapped & returned to slave states.