David Jerome
Encyclopedia
David Howell Jerome was an American politician. He served as the 18th Governor of Michigan
(1881–1883)
in 1828. He was the last of nine children (four by his first wife, five by his second) born to his father, who died on March 30, 1831. Soon after his father’s death, Jerome's mother returned with her children to her native New York, near Syracuse
. In 1834, they returned to Michigan, to a farm in St. Clair County
. As a boy he did farm work and excelled in school attending the St. Clair Academy, where he was allowed to remain until the age of sixteen. He also worked for a time hauling and rafting logs down the St. Clair River
to Algonac
.
In 1855, Jerome and a brother moved to Saginaw
where he served as alderman
. On June 15, 1859, Jerome married Lucy Peck. He enthusiastically helped raise a Civil War
regiment in 1862, serving as the colonel
of the 23rd Michigan Infantry
, and was an active Union
supporter throughout his subsequent state senate service.
, was a merchant by profession. He was a member of the Michigan Senate
from the 27th District 1863–66 and from the 26th District 1867–68, and was appointed Chairman of the Committee on State Affairs upon taking office. He also served as Governor Henry Crapo's military aide from 1865 to 1866, and was a member of the State Military Board from 1865 to 1873. He was also an alternate delegate to the 1868 Republican National Convention
, and, appointed by Governor John J. Bagley
, a member of the Michigan state constitutional commission in 1873 from the 8th district, and was Chairman of the Committee on Finance. He served, as well, on the U.S. Board of Indian Commissioners
from 1876 to 1881.
On November 2, 1880, Jerome was elected the 18th Governor of Michigan
serving from January 1, 1881 to January 1, 1883, defeating Democrat
Frederick M. Holloway. During his tenure, an immigration commissioner was named; the Traverse City State Hospital for the Insane was founded; the state's railroad system was advanced; and the Michigan School for the Blind was established in Lansing
. He was defeated for re-election in 1882, by Democrat Josiah Begole
, ending a record 28-year span of Republican Governors in Michigan.
, which attained land from the Indians to form the Oklahoma Territory
.
An Episcopalian, he died in Saginaw, Michigan
and is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac
.
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:...
(1881–1883)
Early life
He was born in Detroit, Michigan to Horace and Elizabeth Rose (Hart) Jerome who had emigrated to Michigan from Trumansburg, New YorkTrumansburg, New York
Trumansburg is a village in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 1,581 at the 2000 census. The name is a variant spelling of the surname of the founder, Abner Treman...
in 1828. He was the last of nine children (four by his first wife, five by his second) born to his father, who died on March 30, 1831. Soon after his father’s death, Jerome's mother returned with her children to her native New York, near Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. In 1834, they returned to Michigan, to a farm in St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
. As a boy he did farm work and excelled in school attending the St. Clair Academy, where he was allowed to remain until the age of sixteen. He also worked for a time hauling and rafting logs down the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
to Algonac
Algonac, Michigan
Algonac is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,613 at the 2000 census.Algonac is located at the southern end of the St. Clair River, just before it splits into a large delta region known as the St. Clair Flats. The St. Clair River drains Lake Huron into...
.
In 1855, Jerome and a brother moved to Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
where he served as alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
. On June 15, 1859, Jerome married Lucy Peck. He enthusiastically helped raise a Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
regiment in 1862, serving as the colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 23rd Michigan Infantry
23rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 23rd Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 23rd Michigan Infantry was mustered into Federal service at East Saginaw, Michigan on September 13, 1862....
, and was an active Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
supporter throughout his subsequent state senate service.
Politics
Jerome, a RepublicanRepublican 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...
, was a merchant by profession. He was a member of 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....
from the 27th District 1863–66 and from the 26th District 1867–68, and was appointed Chairman of the Committee on State Affairs upon taking office. He also served as Governor Henry Crapo's military aide from 1865 to 1866, and was a member of the State Military Board from 1865 to 1873. He was also an alternate delegate to the 1868 Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
, and, appointed by Governor John J. Bagley
John J. Bagley
John Judson Bagley was a politician from the US state of Michigan, as well as its 16th Governor.-Early life in New York and Michigan:...
, a member of the Michigan state constitutional commission in 1873 from the 8th district, and was Chairman of the Committee on Finance. He served, as well, on the U.S. Board of Indian Commissioners
Board of Indian Commissioners
The Board of Indian Commissioners was a committee that advised the federal government of the United States on Native American policy and it inspected supplies delivered to Indian agencies to ensure the fufillment of government treaty obligations to tribes....
from 1876 to 1881.
On November 2, 1880, Jerome was elected the 18th 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:...
serving from January 1, 1881 to January 1, 1883, defeating Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Frederick M. Holloway. During his tenure, an immigration commissioner was named; the Traverse City State Hospital for the Insane was founded; the state's railroad system was advanced; and the Michigan School for the Blind was established in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
. He was defeated for re-election in 1882, by Democrat Josiah Begole
Josiah Begole
Josiah Williams Begole was a U.S. Representative and the 19th Governor of Michigan.-Early life in New York:Begole was born in Groveland, New York. His ancestors were French Huguenots who emigrated to the United States in the last quarter of the 18th century to escape religious persecution and...
, ending a record 28-year span of Republican Governors in Michigan.
Retirement and death
Six years after leaving office, he was appointed and served on the Cherokee CommissionCherokee Commission
The Cherokee Commission, was a three-person bi-partisan body created by President Benjamin Harrison to operate under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, as empowered by Section 14 of the Indian Appropriations Act of March 2, 1889. Section 15 of the same Act empowered the President to...
, which attained land from the Indians to form the Oklahoma Territory
Oklahoma Territory
The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under a new constitution and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.-Organization:Oklahoma Territory's...
.
An Episcopalian, he died in Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
and is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
.