Edward Breitung
Encyclopedia
Edward Breitung was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Breitung, the son of John M. Breitung, a Lutheran minister, was born in the city of Schalkau
in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
, Germany
(now in Sonneberg District
, Thuringia
). He attended the College of Mining in Meiningen
, then one of the celebrated schools in Germany for scientific and classical studies. In 1849, after the revolution in Germany, he immigrated to the United States
and settled in Kalamazoo County, Michigan
. He moved to Detroit
in 1851 and became a clerk in a mercantile house. He moved to Marquette
and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1859, when he went to Negaunee
. He sold out his mercantile business to engage exclusively in iron-mining operations in 1864, explored for iron deposits in Marquette
and Menominee
Counties, locating several profitable mines from 1864 to 1867. He later became interested in gold and silver mining in Colorado
.
Breitung was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives
in 1873 and 1874 and a member of the Michigan State Senate in 1877 and 1878. He served as mayor of Negaunee in 1879, 1880, and 1882. He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
from Michigan's 11th congressional district
for the Forty-eighth Congress, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1884.
Breitung died in Negaunee and is interred in Park Cemetery in Marquette. Breitung's son, Edward N. Breitung, continued his father's successful mining enterprises in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
.
Breitung Township, Minnesota
is named after him for his work in developing the Soudan Mine there in the 1880s. Breitung Township, Michigan
is also named for him.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
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"....
.
Breitung, the son of John M. Breitung, a Lutheran minister, was born in the city of Schalkau
Schalkau
Schalkau is a town in the district of Sonneberg, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated 13 km west of Sonneberg, and 15 km north of Coburg....
in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen
Saxe-Meiningen
The Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen was one of the Saxon duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin dynasty, located in the southwest of the present-day German state of Thuringia....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(now in Sonneberg District
Sonneberg (district)
Sonneberg is a Kreis in the south of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Hildburghausen, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, and the Bavarian districts Kronach and Coburg.-History:...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
). He attended the College of Mining in Meiningen
Meiningen
Meiningen is a town in Germany - located in the southern part of the state of Thuringia and is the district seat of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. It is situated on the river Werra....
, then one of the celebrated schools in Germany for scientific and classical studies. In 1849, after the revolution in Germany, he immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and settled in Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Kalamazoo County, Michigan
-Air Service:*The Kalamazoo & Battle Creek Metro Area is served by Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.-Interstates:* I-94* I-94 Business Loop-US highways:* US-131* BUS US 131-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-43* M-89* M-96...
. He moved to Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1851 and became a clerk in a mercantile house. He moved to Marquette
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1859, when he went to Negaunee
Negaunee, Michigan
Negaunee is a city in Marquette County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,576 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the southwest corner of Negaunee Township. The city is home to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum...
. He sold out his mercantile business to engage exclusively in iron-mining operations in 1864, explored for iron deposits in Marquette
Marquette Iron Range
The Marquette Iron Range is a deposit of iron ore located in Marquette County, Michigan, largely in and around the towns of Ishpeming and Negaunee. It is a smaller counterpart of Minnesota's Mesabi Range. The iron ore of the Marquette Range has been mined continuously from 1847 until the present...
and Menominee
Menominee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,326 people, 10,529 households, and 7,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 13,639 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
Counties, locating several profitable mines from 1864 to 1867. He later became interested in gold and silver mining in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Breitung was a member of 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...
in 1873 and 1874 and a member of the Michigan State Senate in 1877 and 1878. He served as mayor of Negaunee in 1879, 1880, and 1882. He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located just northwest of Detroit, consisting of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties...
for the Forty-eighth Congress, serving from March 4, 1883 to March 3, 1885. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1884.
Breitung died in Negaunee and is interred in Park Cemetery in Marquette. Breitung's son, Edward N. Breitung, continued his father's successful mining enterprises 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...
.
Breitung Township, Minnesota
Breitung Township, Minnesota
Breitung Township is a township in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 605 at the 2010 census.Minnesota Highway 1 and Minnesota Highway 169 serve as the main arterial route in the township....
is named after him for his work in developing the Soudan Mine there in the 1880s. Breitung Township, Michigan
Breitung Township, Michigan
Breitung Township is a charter township of Dickinson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,930.The township is named after Edward Breitung, a miner and U.S...
is also named for him.
External links
- American biographical history of eminent and self-made men ... Michigan volume. Cincinnati, Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
- Biographical record; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties, Michigan ... Chicago, Biographical Publishing Co.,1903.