Andrew Mack
Encyclopedia
Andrew Mack was an American
businessman and politician who, among other things, co-founded the Detroit Free Press
, served as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, and whose land holdings became a portion of the town of Marysville
.
, and was a sailor as a young man, having sailed around the world three times. In 1804, he drove a herd of merino
sheep that he had purchased in Spain eastward to Cincinnati, Ohio
, where he established a wool
factory and a hotel. In the War of 1812
, he was the captain of a military company and subsequently served as member of the Cincinnati City Council and as a state senator in the Ohio General Assembly
. He ran for Mayor of Cincinnati in the spring of 1829, but lost to the incumbent Isaac G. Burnet
.
appointed him to become customs
collector for Detroit in 1829, a post he held for ten years. Upon his arrival in the Michigan Territory
, he became involved with the local militia
and gained the appellation "Colonel". In 1831, Sheldon McKnight established the Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer (it eventually was renamed to the Detroit Free Press in 1866) and less than a year later, the newspaper was purchased by a consortium of citizens, one of whom was Mack. That group owned the business until 1837.
Mayor Charles Christopher Trowbridge
was elected in early 1834 during a cholera
epidemic, but abruptly resigned. Mack won the ensuing special election on September 24 with 91 votes. In the general election the following year, Mack ran for re-election, but lost. He tried again in 1837, but also was unsuccessful. In 1839, he represented Wayne County
in the state legislature. It is sometimes believed that Mack Avenue in Detroit is named after Andrew Mack, but that was actually named after John M. Mack, who was a supervisor of Hamtramck
.
in the 1840s. He purchased a sawmill
, and the creek next to which it sat became known as Mack's Creek. He also set up a general store
and a wood refueling station to serve the steamships sailing on the Great Lakes Waterway
. This stop, known as "Mack's Place", became popular enough to warrant its own post office
, and Mack served as its postmaster until his death. Mack and his wife Amelia were buried on his property, which is now the Marysville Golf Course. A model of Mack's home can be found at the Marysville Historical Museum in Marysville Park. The house and mill were taken over by George W. Carleton and the creek subsequently became known as Carleton Creek, a name it still bears today. The post office moved to nearby Vicksburg, which was renamed Marysville in 1859 to avoid confusion with Vicksburg
in Kalamazoo County
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and politician who, among other things, co-founded the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
, served as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, and whose land holdings became a portion of the town of Marysville
Marysville, Michigan
Marysville is a city in St. Clair County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,684 at the 2000 census.-Geography:* According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.* It is considered to be part of the Thumb of...
.
Early life
Mack was born in New London, ConnecticutNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, and was a sailor as a young man, having sailed around the world three times. In 1804, he drove a herd of merino
Merino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
sheep that he had purchased in Spain eastward to Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, where he established a 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....
factory and a hotel. In 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...
, he was the captain of a military company and subsequently served as member of the Cincinnati City Council and as a state senator in the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
. He ran for Mayor of Cincinnati in the spring of 1829, but lost to the incumbent Isaac G. Burnet
Isaac G. Burnet
Isaac Gouverneur Burnet was a Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on July 7, 1784, in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.He married Keturah Wynne Gordon in 1804. They had 11 children....
.
Detroit
President Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
appointed him to become customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
collector for Detroit in 1829, a post he held for ten years. Upon his arrival in the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
, he became involved with the local militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and gained the appellation "Colonel". In 1831, Sheldon McKnight established the Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer (it eventually was renamed to the Detroit Free Press in 1866) and less than a year later, the newspaper was purchased by a consortium of citizens, one of whom was Mack. That group owned the business until 1837.
Mayor Charles Christopher Trowbridge
Charles Christopher Trowbridge
Charles Christopher Trowbridge was an explorer, politician, businessman, and ethnographer of Native American cultures who lived in Detroit during the 19th century...
was elected in early 1834 during a cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic, but abruptly resigned. Mack won the ensuing special election on September 24 with 91 votes. In the general election the following year, Mack ran for re-election, but lost. He tried again in 1837, but also was unsuccessful. In 1839, he represented Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in the state legislature. It is sometimes believed that Mack Avenue in Detroit is named after Andrew Mack, but that was actually named after John M. Mack, who was a supervisor of Hamtramck
Hamtramck, Michigan
Hamtramck is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 22,423. Hamtramck is surrounded by the city of Detroit except for a small portion of the western border that touches the similarly surrounded city of Highland Park...
.
Marysville
Mack moved to St. Clair CountySt. 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....
in the 1840s. He purchased a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
, and the creek next to which it sat became known as Mack's Creek. He also set up a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
and a wood refueling station to serve the steamships sailing on the Great Lakes Waterway
Great Lakes Waterway
The Great Lakes Waterway is a system of channels and canals that makes all of the Great Lakes accessible to oceangoing vessels. Its principal civil engineering components are the Welland Canal, bypassing Niagara Falls between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and the Soo Locks, bypassing the rapids of...
. This stop, known as "Mack's Place", became popular enough to warrant its own post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, and Mack served as its postmaster until his death. Mack and his wife Amelia were buried on his property, which is now the Marysville Golf Course. A model of Mack's home can be found at the Marysville Historical Museum in Marysville Park. The house and mill were taken over by George W. Carleton and the creek subsequently became known as Carleton Creek, a name it still bears today. The post office moved to nearby Vicksburg, which was renamed Marysville in 1859 to avoid confusion with Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Michigan
Vicksburg is a village in Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,320 at the 2000 census.The village is located mostly within Schoolcraft Township on the east side, though a portion is also within Brady Township.-History:...
in Kalamazoo County
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...
.