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The Political Graveyard: A Database of American History
College and University President Politicians in Michigan

James B. Angell James Burrill Angell (1829-1916) — also known as James B. Angell — of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich. Born in Scituate, Providence County, R.I., January 7, 1829. Editor of Sen. Henry B. Anthony's newspaper, Providence Journal, 1860-66; president, University of Vermont, 1866-71; president, University of Michigan, 1871-1909; U.S. Minister to China, 1880-81; Turkey, 1897-98. Congregationalist. Member, American Historical Association. Died in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich., April 1, 1916 (age 87 years, 85 days). Interment at Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  Relatives: Son of Andrew Aldrich Angell and Amey (Aldrich) Angell; married, November 26, 1855, to Sarah S. Caswell (daughter of Alexis Caswell); father of Alexis Caswell Angell.
  Political family: Angell-Cooley family of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
  Angell Hall, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., is named for him.
  See also Wikipedia article — U.S. State Dept career summary — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Image source: Past and Present of Washtenaw County (1906)
  Charles Leroy Anspach (1895-1977) — also known as Charles L. Anspach — of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County, Mich. Born in Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio, March 5, 1895. Republican. Delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Isabella District, 1961-62. Brethren. Member, Rotary; Freemasons; Shriners. President, Central Michigan University. Died in Mt. Pleasant, Isabella County, Mich., October 25, 1977 (age 82 years, 234 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Philip Anspach and Amanda (Loose) Anspach; married to Mary Fisher.
  William Henry Harrison Beadle (1838-1915) — also known as William H. H. Beadle — of Yankton, Yankton County, Dakota Territory (now S.Dak.); Madison, Lake County, S.Dak. Born, in a log cabin at Howard, Parke County, Ind., January 1, 1838. Republican. Colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War; lawyer; U.S. Surveyor-General for Dakota Territory, 1869-71; member of Republican National Committee from Dakota Territory, 1872-; member of Dakota territorial House of Representatives, 1877-79; Dakota Territory superintendent of public instruction, 1879-86; president, Madison State Normal School (now Dakota State University), 1889-1906. Member, Freemasons. Died in San Francisco, Calif., November 15, 1915 (age 77 years, 318 days). Interment at Riverside Cemetery, Albion, Mich.
  Presumably named for: William Henry Harrison
  Relatives: Son of James Ward Beadle and Elizabeth (Bright) Beadle; married, May 18, 1863, to Ellen S. (Rich) Chapman.
  Beadle County, S.Dak. is named for him.
  See also Wikipedia article
  Thomas E. Brennan (1929-2018) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich.; East Lansing, Ingham County, Mich. Born in Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., April 27, 1929. Republican. Lawyer; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives, 1952 (Wayne County 1st District), 1954 (Wayne County 6th District); candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 15th District, 1955; common pleas court judge in Michigan, 1961-63; circuit judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1963-65; appointed 1963; resigned 1966; justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1967-73; resigned 1973; chief justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1969-71; founder, first dean, and first president, Thomas M. Cooley Law School; candidate for U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1976; candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1982. Catholic. Irish ancestry. Member, American Bar Association; Delta Theta Phi; Ancient Order of Hibernians. Died in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., September 29, 2018 (age 89 years, 155 days). Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Mich.
  Relatives: Married 1951 to Pauline Mary 'Polly' Weinberger.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial — Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society
  James H. Brickley (1928-2001) — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich.; Okemos, Ingham County, Mich.; Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Mich. Born in Flint, Genesee County, Mich., November 15, 1928. Republican. Lawyer; candidate for Judge, Michigan Court of Appeals 1st District, 1966; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, 1969-70; Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1971-74, 1979-82; resigned 1982; president, Eastern Michigan University, 1975-78; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1982; justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1982-99; appointed 1982; resigned 1999; chief justice of Michigan state supreme court, 1995-96. Catholic. Member, Delta Theta Phi; American Bar Association. Died, of multiple myeloma and Alzheimer's disease, on September 28, 2001 (age 72 years, 317 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of J. Harry Brickley and Marie E. (Fischer) Brickley; married, June 16, 1950, to Marianne E. Doyle.
  See also Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society
  Gilbert E. Bursley (1913-1998) — also known as "Mr. Education" — of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich. Born in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich., February 28, 1913. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict; member of Michigan state house of representatives from Washtenaw County 1st District, 1961-64; member of Michigan state senate 18th District, 1965-78; candidate for University of Michigan board of regents, 1978; president, Cleary College, Ypsilanti, Mich., 1978-84. Episcopalian. Member, Rotary; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion; Sons of the American Revolution; Elks. Died September 20, 1998 (age 85 years, 204 days). Cremated; ashes interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  Relatives: Son of Phillip Everette Bursley and Flora (Peters) Bursley; brother of Mary Carter; first cousin thrice removed of David Bursley.
  Political family: Bursley-Carter family of Ann Arbor and Jackson, Michigan.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Owen Jenks Cleary (1900-1960) — also known as Owen J. Cleary — of Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Mich. Born in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Mich., February 4, 1900. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; lawyer; president, Cleary College; candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, 1946; Michigan Republican state chair, 1949-53; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1952 (member, Resolutions Committee; speaker), 1956 (alternate); member of Republican National Committee from Michigan, 1952-53; secretary of state of Michigan, 1953-54; defeated, 1954; candidate for Governor of Michigan, 1954. Congregationalist. Member, American Legion; Rotary; American Bar Association; Phi Kappa Sigma; Phi Delta Phi; Delta Theta Phi; Moose. Died September 10, 1960 (age 60 years, 219 days). Interment at Highland Cemetery, Ypsilanti, Mich.
  Relatives: Son of Patrick Roger Cleary and Helen Clarke (Jenks) Cleary; married to Marie DeWaele.
  John Adrian Delaney (b. 1956) — also known as John Delaney — of Jacksonville, Duval County, Fla. Born in Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., June 29, 1956. Republican. Mayor of Jacksonville, Fla., 1995-2003; president, University of North Florida. Catholic. Still living as of 2014.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier
  Grover Cleveland Dillman (1889-1979) — also known as Grover C. Dillman — of East Lansing, Ingham County, Mich.; Flint, Genesee County, Mich. Born in Bangor Township, Van Buren County, Mich., July 18, 1889. Republican. Engineer; Michigan state highway commissioner, 1929-33; appointed 1929; defeated, 1933; president, Michigan Tech University. German ancestry. Died in Flushing, Genesee County, Mich., April 14, 1979 (age 89 years, 270 days). Interment at Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Mich.
  Presumably named for: Grover Cleveland
  Relatives: Son of Henry Dillman and Ada (Jaggers) Dillman; married 1914 to Anna Rose Broadwell.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
  Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (1853-1928) — also known as Woodbridge N. Ferris; "The Big Rapids Schoolmaster"; "The Good Grey Governor" — of Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Mich. Born in a log cabin near Spencer, Tioga County, N.Y., January 6, 1853. Democrat. School teacher; superintendent of schools; founder and president, Ferris Institute, later Ferris State University; candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan 11th District, 1892; candidate for Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1902; candidate for University of Michigan board of regents, 1907; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1912 (Honorary Vice-President), 1916, 1924; Governor of Michigan, 1913-16; defeated, 1904, 1920; president, Big Rapids Savings Bank; U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1923-28; died in office 1928; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1924. Died, of bronchial pneumonia, in Washington, D.C., March 23, 1928 (age 75 years, 77 days). Interment at Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, Mich.
  Relatives: Son of John Ferris, Jr. and Estella (Reed) Ferris; married 1874 to Helen Frances Gillespie; married 1921 to Mary Ethel McCloud.
  Ferris State University, in Big Rapids, Michigan, is named for him.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — National Governors Association biography
  John Milton Gregory (b. 1822) — also known as John M. Gregory — of Michigan. Born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer County, N.Y., July 6, 1822. Republican. Baptist minister; Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1859-64; president, Kalamazoo College; president, Illinois Industrial University. Baptist. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Joseph Gregory; married 1846 to Julia Gregory; married 1881 to Louisa Allen.
  John Alfred Hannah (1902-1991) — also known as John A. Hannah — of East Lansing, Ingham County, Mich. Born in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Mich., October 9, 1902. Republican. Agricultural extension agent; president of Michigan State College, 1941-55, and Michigan State University, 1955-69; director, Motor Wheel Corporation, Michigan Bell Telephone Company, American Bank and Trust Company, and Manufacturers National Bank of Detroit; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 14th Senatorial District, 1961-62. Episcopalian. Member, Freemasons; Elks; Rotary; Newcomen Society; Phi Eta Sigma; Phi Kappa Phi; Sigma Delta Chi; Pi Kappa Delta; Alpha Zeta. Died in 1991 (age about 88 years). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Wilfred Steele Hannah and Mary Ellen (Malone) Hannah; married to Sarah May Shaw.
  See also Wikipedia article
  Clifford Morris Hardin (1915-2010) — also known as Clifford M. Hardin — of East Lansing, Ingham County, Mich.; Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb. Born in Knightstown, Henry County, Ind., October 9, 1915. University professor; chancellor, University of Nebraska, 1954-68; U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1969-71. Quaker. Died in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Neb., April 4, 2010 (age 94 years, 177 days). Interment at Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, Neb.
  Relatives: Son of J. Alvin Hardin and Mabel (Macy) Hardin; married to Martha Love Wood.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Harold Carlton Mason (1888-1964) — also known as Harold C. Mason — of Blissfield, Lenawee County, Mich.; Huntington, Huntington County, Ind.; Winona Lake, Kosciusko County, Ind. Born in Kunkle, Williams County, Ohio, November 9, 1888. School teacher; minister; Prohibition candidate for Michigan state senate 19th District, 1914; bishop; college professor; president, Huntington College, 1932-39. Free Methodist. German, Scottish, English, and Welsh ancestry. Died, from a myocardial infarction, in Winona Lake, Kosciusko County, Ind., June 2, 1964 (age 75 years, 206 days). Interment at Waldron Cemetery, Waldron, Mich.
  Relatives: Son of Emmit Carlton Mason and Virginia Elizabeth 'Libby' (Munson) Mason; married, December 25, 1909, to Alta Elvida McFate.
  See also Find-A-Grave memorial
Thomas W. Nadal Thomas William Nadal (b. 1875) — also known as Thomas W. Nadal — of Olivet, Eaton County, Mich.; Springfield, Greene County, Mo. Born near Milroy, Rush County, Ind., June 17, 1875. Republican. College professor; member of Michigan state board of education, 1911-17; appointed 1911; acting president, Olivet College, Olivet, Mich., 1915-16; president, Drury College, Springfield, Mo., 1917. Congregationalist. English and French ancestry. Member, Phi Beta Kappa; Delta Kappa Epsilon; Modern Language Association. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Benjamin Franklin Nadal and Jerusha (Richey) Nadal; married, June 2, 1909, to Kathryne Dillingham Wyckoff.
  Image source: Michigan Manual 1911
  Stanley Barnum Niles (1896-1978) — also known as Stanley B. Niles — of Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, Mich.; Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa. Born in Nashville, Barry County, Mich., January 22, 1896. Methodist minister; Dry candidate for delegate to Michigan convention to ratify 21st amendment from Eaton County, 1933; Commonwealth candidate for University of Michigan board of regents, 1935; Commonwealth candidate for Michigan state auditor general, 1936; president, Iowa Wesleyan College, 1938-49. Methodist. Member, American Legion; Delta Sigma Phi; Delta Sigma Rho. Died, in Methodist Manor retirement home, Tulsa, Tulsa County, Okla., December 30, 1978 (age 82 years, 342 days). Interment somewhere in Tulsa, Okla.
  Relatives: Son of Fred Lewis Niles and Carrie A. (Barnum) Niles; married, April 11, 1919, to Velma A. Thomas.
  John W. Porter (1931-2012) — of East Lansing, Ingham County, Mich.; Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Mich. Born in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Ind., August 13, 1931. School teacher; Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1969-79; first African-American state school superintendent; president, Eastern Michigan University, 1979-89. United Church of Christ. African ancestry. Member, Urban League; Phi Delta Kappa; NAACP. Died June 27, 2012 (age 80 years, 319 days). Burial location unknown.
  The John W. Porter Education Building (opened 1999), at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, is named for him.
  Clinton DeWitt Smith (b. 1854) — of East Lansing, Ingham County, Mich. Born in Trumansburg, Tompkins County, N.Y., March 7, 1854. University professor; mayor of East Lansing, Mich., 1907-08. President of Escola Agricola, Piracicaba, Sao Paolo, Brazil, 1908-13. Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Son of Reuben Smith and Clarissa G. (Pease) Smith; married, June 16, 1892, to Anna Cora Smith.
  Paul F. Voelker (b. 1875) — of Michigan. Born in Evart, Osceola County, Mich., September 20, 1875. Democrat. School teacher; superintendent of schools; college professor; president of Olivet College, 1920-24; Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1933-35; defeated, 1935. Member, Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Delta. Interment at Hersey Cemetery, Hersey, Mich.
  Adonijah Strong Welch (1821-1889) — also known as Adonijah S. Welch — of Jonesville, Hillsdale County, Mich.; Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, Mich.; Pensacola, Escambia County, Fla.; Jacksonville, Duval County, Fla.; Ames, Story County, Iowa. Born in East Hampton, Middlesex County, Conn., April 12, 1821. Republican. First principal, in 1851-65, of the Michigan State Normal School in Ypsilanti, Mich. (later Eastern Michigan University); member of Michigan state board of agriculture, 1863-66; established a lumber mill at Jacksonville, Fla.; U.S. Senator from Florida, 1868-69; first president, in 1869-83, of the Iowa Agricultural College in Ames, Iowa (later Iowa State University); college professor; author. Died in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, Calif., March 14, 1889 (age 67 years, 336 days). Interment at Iowa State College Cemetery, Ames, Iowa.
  Welch Hall (built 1896), at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, is named for him.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article
  Wynand Wichers (b. 1886) — of Ottawa County, Mich. Born in Zeeland, Ottawa County, Mich., 1886. Republican. College professor; president, Hope College; Dry candidate for delegate to Michigan convention to ratify 21st amendment from Ottawa County, 1933; member of Michigan state board of education; elected 1935, 1941; resigned 1945; Honorary Consul for Netherlands in Grand Rapids, Mich., 1974. Burial location unknown.
"Enjoy the hospitable entertainment of a political graveyard."
Henry L. Clinton, Apollo Hall, New York City, February 3, 1872
The Political Graveyard

The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. Founded in 1996, it is the Internet's most comprehensive free source for American political biography, listing 320,919 politicians, living and dead.
 
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