Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Karen D. Foster for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================== U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================== Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== SOURCE: History of Genesee County, Michigan pub. Everts and Abbott - 1879 Page 179 - 180 GOVERNOR H. H. CRAPO Henry Howland Crapo was born at Dartmouth, Bristol Co., Mass., May 24, 1804, and died at Flint, Genesee Co., Mich., July 22, 1869. He was of French ancestry. His father was a small farmer of Dartmouth. His educational advantages were limited, and he was to a great extent self- educated. He early manifested a passion for literary pursuits, studying night and day. When quite young he was given charge of the Dartmouth primary and high schools, and passed a severe examination at the Friends' Academy, New Bedford, to which city he removed in 1832, and held several municipal offices,--among others that of police justice and treasurer of the city for several years. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of the free public library of New Bedford, the first institution of its kind in Massachusetts. While a resident of New Bedford, Mr. Crapo acquired quite a taste for horticulture, established a nursery, and contributed by his pen to various ========================================================================== Page 180 horticultural periodicals, as well as exhibiting the productions of his nurseries at local and district fairs. An affecting eulogy on Mr. Crapo's death was pronounced in 1869, by the president of the National Horticultural Society, at Philadelphia. During his residence in New Bedford he was engaged in the whaling business. He was colonel in the Massachusetts State militia, an officer of two insurance companies, and a compiler of the New Bedford City Directory from 1836 to 1845. Mr. Crapo removed to Michigan in 1856, having made large investments in pine-lands may years before, making the city of Flint his home. He was largely engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber at Flint, Fentonville, Holly, and Detroit, soon becoming one of the most successful business men of the State. He was the main promoter of the Flint and Holly Railroad, and was president of that road till its consolidation with the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway. He was mayor of Flint, and in 1862 was elected to the State Senate, taking rank among the leaders of that body, being chairman of the committee on banks and incorporations, and a member of the committee on bounties to soldiers. He was elected Governor in 1864, when the war of the Rebellion was drawing to a close, and re-elected in 1866, filling the position with marked ability. The principal features of his administration were the cordial and hearty support which he gave President Lincoln in crushing the Rebellion, his veto of the then popular measure to permit the ruinous bonding of municipalities in aid of railroads, and his refusal to pardon convicts from the penitentiary unless upon the clearest proof of their innocence. Of his administration Judge Campbell says, "Governor Crapo was a very conscientious and valuable public servant, and his careful supervision saved the State from mismanagement in some of the multitudinous contracts which require almost the eyes of Argus to watch them. His great business experience and strict economy and integrity induced him to give a degree of personal supervision to the details of road-building and other outlays which was more than any one man could devote to such work without injury to himself. His untimely death was owing to neglect of health in attending to the details of public affairs." With his removal to Michigan Mr. Crapo did not lose his taste for rural affairs, horticulture, and agriculture. He had a farm of eleven hundred acres in the town of Gaines, which he reclaimed from a swamp, and made extensive improvements thereon, stocking it with fine breeds of cattle and sheep, many of which were his own importation. The farmers of Genesee County chose him president of their society. He was a regular contributor on agricultural topics to the Albany "County Gentleman". In politics Mr. Crapo was originally a Whig, but became an active member of the Republican party when it was organized. Jan. 9, 1825, he married Miss Mary Ann Slocum. Her people were of the denomination of Friends. Her plain taste and frugal habits aided her husband and contributed largely to his success in life. She was benevolent and charitable to the poor. She, as well as Mr. Crapo, were members of the Christian, or Disciples' Church of New Bedford. After coming to Flint they were identified with the Presbyterian Church. The unobtrusive pleasures of domestic life were Mr. Crapo's peculiar enjoyment. He was the kind father of a large and loving family of one son and nine daughters. The son, William W. Crapo, now represents the New Bedford, Mass., district in Congress. ==========================================================================