Legislator Details
Image Description:
Portrait captured from Find-a-Grave.com, 11/15/2025
Number of sessions served 5
Gender: Male
Age at election: 56
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 3/9/1858
City:
County:
Country: US
Death
Date: 1/10/1933
City: Iron River, MI
County: Iron County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 1/13/1933
City: Iron River, MI
County: Iron County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Iron River Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Georgia Elliott of Black River Falls, WI, in 1885; children: 5, Stella R. and Dorothy G. (Carlson), Harold, Ernest and George Elliott [the boys died as young children]
Number of Children: 5
Background
Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: publisher; newpaper editor; postmaster
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
attended high school in Livingston County, MI
Biographical Sketch:
Of Irish ancestry. Son of Thomas O'Brien. In 1871, he came to Michigan with his parents, locating at Brighton, Livingston County. He worked on a farm during the summer months of his high school years and worked briefly for the railroad. In the fall of 1876, he entered the office of the Brighton Citizen to learn the printing trade and continued in that business working on different papers in Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1887, he purchased the Iron County Reporter, changing its name to the Iron River-Stambaugh Reporter, and was editor and publisher. He was postmaster 1890-94 and 1924-33, has been president and trustee of the village of Iron River; township and village clerk; a member of the board of education, member of the board of directors of Chamber of Commerce; was president of the Iron County Agricultural Society, and also chairman of the Republican county committee. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Elks.
Notable Facts:
Born in Western Pennsylvania
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: Fish and Fisheries , Insurance , Industrial School for Boys , Roads and Bridges
City of Residence: Iron River
District Description: Comprising the counties of Baraga, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Insurance , Mines and Minerals , Roads and Bridges , State Normal College
City of Residence: Iron River
District Description: Comprising the counties of Baraga, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Insurance , Railroads , Ways and Means
City of Residence: Iron River
District Description: Comprising the counties of Baraga, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of the Committee on Insurance
Committees Served On: Game Laws , Industrial School for Boys , Mines and Minerals , Railroads
City of Residence: Iron River
District Description: Comprising the counties of Baraga, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Game Laws , Industrial School for Boys , Mines and Minerals , Railroads
City of Residence: Iron River
District Description: Comprising the counties of Baraga, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Notes: Chair of Mines and Minerals;
Bibliography:
Manual 1917 p.799; Manual 1919 p.824; Manual 1923 p.748; PolGryd; USCen 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930; Find-a-Grave.com, includes portraits, obit plus; Michiganology
