Alonzo Sessions
Encyclopedia
Alonzo Sessions was a politician from the U. S. state of Michigan
.
acquired and early education and taught school. In 1831 he moved to Bennington
and worked in a store as a clerk for two years receiving $10 a month and board
.
In 1833, Sessions left New York
and traveled to Michigan mostly on foot. After traveling all over Michigan, he wound up in White Pigeon
where the U. S. land office was and entered his land. The next winter he taught school in Dayton, Ohio
until 1835 when he bought a team and came through his land on the south side of the Grand River
. He also built the first log cabin in the Township of Berlin
and managed an 800 acres (3.2 km²) farm. In 1837 he married Celia Dexter and had thirteen children together. He served as the first supervisor of Berlin; first chairman of the board of supervisors for Ionia County
; justice of the peace
for eight years; and sheriff from 1841-42.
In 1856, Sessions was elected as a Republican
from Ionia County (2nd district) to the Michigan House of Representatives and served from 1857-62. He co-founded and served as director and president of the First National Bank of Ionia. In 1972 he served as a Presidential Elector
for Michigan casting his vote for incumbent U. S. President Ulysses S. Grant
.
In 1876 and 1878, Sessions was elected as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
and served under Governor
Charles Croswell
from 1877-1881. Sessions was also a member of The Grange. He died five years after leaving office.
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"....
.
Biography
Sessions was born to Amasa and Pheobe (Smith) Sessions in Marcellus, New YorkMarcellus, New York
Marcellus, New York may refer to:*Marcellus , New York in Onondaga County*Marcellus , New York, located within the Town of Marcellus...
acquired and early education and taught school. In 1831 he moved to Bennington
Bennington, New York
Bennington is a town in Wyoming County, New York in the USA. The population was 3,349 during the 2000 census. The town was named after Bennington, Vermont....
and worked in a store as a clerk for two years receiving $10 a month and board
Room and board
Room and board describes a situation where, in exchange for money, labor or other considerations, a person is provided with a place to live as well as meals on a comprehensive basis...
.
In 1833, Sessions left New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and traveled to Michigan mostly on foot. After traveling all over Michigan, he wound up in White Pigeon
White Pigeon, Michigan
White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,627 at the 2000 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township.-Geography:...
where the U. S. land office was and entered his land. The next winter he taught school in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
until 1835 when he bought a team and came through his land on the south side of the Grand River
Grand River (Michigan)
The Grand River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Michigan. It runs through the cities of Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Grand Haven.-Description:...
. He also built the first log cabin in the Township of Berlin
Berlin Township, Ionia County, Michigan
Berlin Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,787.-Communities:* Berlin Center is an unincorporated community near the center of the township at ....
and managed an 800 acres (3.2 km²) farm. In 1837 he married Celia Dexter and had thirteen children together. He served as the first supervisor of Berlin; first chairman of the board of supervisors for Ionia County
Ionia County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 61,518 people, 20,606 households, and 15,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 107 people per square mile . There were 22,006 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
; justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for eight years; and sheriff from 1841-42.
In 1856, Sessions was elected as a Republican
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...
from Ionia County (2nd district) to the Michigan House of Representatives and served from 1857-62. He co-founded and served as director and president of the First National Bank of Ionia. In 1972 he served as a Presidential Elector
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
for Michigan casting his vote for incumbent U. S. President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
.
In 1876 and 1878, Sessions was elected as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
and served under Governor
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:...
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:...
from 1877-1881. Sessions was also a member of The Grange. He died five years after leaving office.