Cyrus G. Luce
Encyclopedia
Cyrus Gray Luce was the 21st Governor of the US state of Michigan
.
, Ashtabula County, Ohio
. His father, a veteran of the War of 1812
from Tolland, Connecticut
, settled in the Connecticut Western Reserve
after the war. When he was twelve years old, Cyrus moved west with his family to Steuben County, Indiana
. After leaving school at age 17, Luce worked from 1841 until 1848 in a woolen mill, carding wool
and dressing the unfinished cloth for sale.
In 1848, he was a Whig Party
candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives
for the district including Steuben and DeKalb
counties. He lost a close election, and in the same year he purchased 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) of uncultivated land near Gilead, Michigan in Branch County
not far from the Indiana state line.
In 1852, he was elected to represent Gilead Township on the Branch County Board of Supervisors. In 1854, he was elected as a candidate of the newly formed Republican party
to the Michigan State House of Representatives
, serving from 1855 to 1856. He was elected Branch County Treasurer in 1858 and again in 1860. In 1864, he was named to fill a seat in the Michigan Senate
and was re-elected in 1866. In July, 1879, Luce was appointed State Oil Inspector by Governor Charles Croswell
, and re-appointed by Gov. David Jerome
in 1881.
His first wife Julia died in August 1882, and Luce married Mary Thompson of Bronson, Michigan
in November 1883.
Running as a Republican party
candidate, Luce was elected Governor of Michigan
in November 1886, defeating George L. Yaple
, taking office on January 1, 1887. He was reelected in 1888 and served two two-year terms. During his tenure, the position of state game warden was established and a local liquor option law was sanctioned.
, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery adjacent to that municipality.
Luce County
, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
, is named for him. He was the last governor of the state to have a county named in his honor. His administration was marked by rapid population growth and development in northern Michigan, led by the lumber
industry. A state landmark, the Grand Hotel
on Mackinac Island
, was built in 1887 during his administration.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life in Ohio and Indiana
Luce was born in WindsorWindsor, Ohio
Windsor is an unincorporated community in eastern Windsor Township, Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 44099. It lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 322 with State Route 534....
, Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County is the northeasternmost county in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 101,497, its county seat is Jefferson. The county is named for a Native American word meaning "river of many fish"....
. His father, a veteran of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
from Tolland, Connecticut
Tolland, Connecticut
Tolland is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,146 at the 2000 census.Tolland was named in May, 1715, and incorporated in May, 1722. According to some, the town derives its name from being a toll station on the old road between Boston and New York. ...
, settled in the Connecticut Western Reserve
Connecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.-History:...
after the war. When he was twelve years old, Cyrus moved west with his family to Steuben County, Indiana
Steuben County, Indiana
Steuben County is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 34,185. The county seat is Angola...
. After leaving school at age 17, Luce worked from 1841 until 1848 in a woolen mill, carding wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
and dressing the unfinished cloth for sale.
In 1848, he was a Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
for the district including Steuben and DeKalb
DeKalb County, Indiana
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Named for Revolutionary War hero Johann, Baron de Kalb , the county was created by the Indiana legislature in 1835 and organized in 1837. As of 2010, the population was 42,223...
counties. He lost a close election, and in the same year he purchased 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) of uncultivated land near Gilead, Michigan in Branch County
Branch County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 45,787 people, 16,349 households, and 11,575 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 19,822 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
not far from the Indiana state line.
Life and Politics in Michigan
Luce cleared the land for farming and in 1849 married Julia A. Dickinson of Gilead. Over time, he expanded his landholdings with additional purchases. He became an active member of the Grange in 1874, and remained active in the organization for many years afterwards.In 1852, he was elected to represent Gilead Township on the Branch County Board of Supervisors. In 1854, he was elected as a candidate of the newly formed Republican party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Michigan State House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
, serving from 1855 to 1856. He was elected Branch County Treasurer in 1858 and again in 1860. In 1864, he was named to fill a seat in the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
and was re-elected in 1866. In July, 1879, Luce was appointed State Oil Inspector by Governor Charles Croswell
Charles Croswell
Charles Miller Croswell was the 17th Governor of the US state of Michigan from 1877 to 1881.-Early life in New York:...
, and re-appointed by Gov. David Jerome
David Jerome
David Howell Jerome was an American politician. He served as the 18th Governor of Michigan -Early life:...
in 1881.
His first wife Julia died in August 1882, and Luce married Mary Thompson of Bronson, Michigan
Bronson, Michigan
Bronson is a city located in west central Branch County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census.Bronson is situated on U.S. Route 12 about southwest of Coldwater...
in November 1883.
Running as a Republican party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate, Luce was elected Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in November 1886, defeating George L. Yaple
George L. Yaple
George Lewis Yaple was a politician and jurist from the U.S. state of Michigan.Yaple was born in Leonidas, Michigan, and moved with his parents to Mendon, Michigan, in 1857, where he attended the common schools...
, taking office on January 1, 1887. He was reelected in 1888 and served two two-year terms. During his tenure, the position of state game warden was established and a local liquor option law was sanctioned.
Death and legacy
Luce died at the age of 80 in Coldwater, MichiganColdwater, Michigan
Coldwater is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,945. It is the county seat of Branch County....
, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery adjacent to that municipality.
Luce County
Luce County, Michigan
-Government:The county government operates the jail, maintains rural roads, operates themajor local courts, keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains vital records, administers...
, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
, is named for him. He was the last governor of the state to have a county named in his honor. His administration was marked by rapid population growth and development in northern Michigan, led by the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
industry. A state landmark, the Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island)
The Grand Hotel is a historic hotel and coastal resort located on Mackinac Island, Michigan, a small island located at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac within Lake Huron between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Constructed in the late 19th century, the facility advertises itself as...
on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
, was built in 1887 during his administration.