De Garmo Jones
Encyclopedia
De Garmo Jones was a businessman, state senator, and mayor of Detroit.
; the first name of his father is unknown but, his mother was Rachel De Garmo, daughter of a prominent Albany family. He served as a sutler
during the War of 1812
, during which time he passed though Detroit. In March, 1818, Jones married Catherine Annin. The couple immediately moved to Detroit, arriving in 1819. De Garmo and Catherine Annin Jones had seven children, of which three survived them: Matilda Cass Jones (born 1833, married Auustus Porter Thimpson), De Garmo Jones (born 1835, married Caroline Sauger), and Alice Kercheval Jones (born 1838, married Albert M. Steele).
In Detroit, he purchased a farm near the city, located between what is now Third Avenue and the alley east of Fourth Street. Over time, Jones increased the value of the farm, and making him and his heirs wealthy. Jones had a diverse portfolio of business interests; he was one of the first stockholders in the Bank of Michigan, one of the first directors of the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad (later the Michigan Central Railroad
), and developed copper
mines near Lake Superior
. He also owned interests in shipping, warehousing, and construction companies, and built the first capitol building on the state of Michigan.
Jones was a member of the Whig Party
, and served several times as an alderman of the city of Detroit (1827, 1830, and 1838), and was elected mayor in 1839. He also served as Adjutant-General of the state of Michigan in 1829 and as a state senator in 1840-1841. His contemporary George C. Bates said of him:
De Garmo Jones died on November 14, 1846, leaving an estate valued at $250,000. His wife Catherine died in 1865, leaving an estate valued at $500,000.
Biography
De Garmo Jones was born in 1787 in Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
; the first name of his father is unknown but, his mother was Rachel De Garmo, daughter of a prominent Albany family. He served as a sutler
Sutler
A sutler or victualer is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters. The sutler sold wares from the back of a wagon or a temporary tent, allowing them to travel along with an army or to remote military outposts...
during 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...
, during which time he passed though Detroit. In March, 1818, Jones married Catherine Annin. The couple immediately moved to Detroit, arriving in 1819. De Garmo and Catherine Annin Jones had seven children, of which three survived them: Matilda Cass Jones (born 1833, married Auustus Porter Thimpson), De Garmo Jones (born 1835, married Caroline Sauger), and Alice Kercheval Jones (born 1838, married Albert M. Steele).
In Detroit, he purchased a farm near the city, located between what is now Third Avenue and the alley east of Fourth Street. Over time, Jones increased the value of the farm, and making him and his heirs wealthy. Jones had a diverse portfolio of business interests; he was one of the first stockholders in the Bank of Michigan, one of the first directors of the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad (later the Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
), and developed copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mines near Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. He also owned interests in shipping, warehousing, and construction companies, and built the first capitol building on the state of Michigan.
Jones was a member of the 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...
, and served several times as an alderman of the city of Detroit (1827, 1830, and 1838), and was elected mayor in 1839. He also served as Adjutant-General of the state of Michigan in 1829 and as a state senator in 1840-1841. His contemporary George C. Bates said of him:
- Sudden and quick in quarrel, with a temper requiring a curb bit, Mr. Jones was a sort of western VanderbiltCornelius VanderbiltCornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
, with a great big head, enlarged views, interesting industry, who saw far ahead into the future, and had he lived longer, would have cut deeper and deeper into the tablet of time his career, for he was a most public spirited, enterprising, go ahead man.
De Garmo Jones died on November 14, 1846, leaving an estate valued at $250,000. His wife Catherine died in 1865, leaving an estate valued at $500,000.