Henry H. Crapo
Encyclopedia
Henry Howland Crapo (May 24, 1804 – July 23, 1869) was the 14th Governor of Michigan
during the end of the American Civil War
and the beginning of Reconstruction.
. He spent his early years on his father's farm and then as a teacher in Dartmouth before moving to New Bedford
, where he became a land surveyor, and occasionally acted as an auctioneer. He was elected Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Collector of taxes, which office he held until the municipal government was changed, about fifteen years. Upon the inauguration of the city government, he was elected Treasurer and Collector of taxes, a position which he held two or three years. He was also Justice of the Peace
for many years. He was elected Alderman of New Bedford, and was Chairman of Council Committee on Education, along with involvement in the whaling
industry. A barque built at Dartmouth, of which he was part owner, was named the H. H. Crapo in compliment to him. On June 9, 1825, Crapo married Mary Ann Slocum. Together they had nine daughters and a son. Crapo became treasurer of New Bedford when it was incorporated as a city in 1847.
Crapo also took part in the State Militia, and for several years held a commission as Colonel
of one of the regiments. He was President of the Bristol County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Secretary of the Bedford Commercial Insurance Company in New Bedford. While an officer of the municipal government he compiled and published, between the years 1836 and 1845, five numbers of the New Bedford Directory, the first work of the kind ever published there.
, primarily due to investments in pinelands, and became Flint's mayor in 1860. His family established a lucrative lumbering business in the area, which by the beginning of the Civil War was one of the largest individually owned lumber firms in the state. He was instrumental in the construction of the Flint and Holly Railroad
, and was President of that corporation until its consolidation with the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad
.
Swamp land called "Gaines' Dead Marsh", or "Dead Man's Swamp" - about 1000 acres—was purchased by Henry Howland Crapo in 1860. The swamp, the source of the west branch of the Swartz Creek
and its name, was drained. An effective settlement was established there with the Crapo Farm with most structures outside of the current boundaries of the City of Swartz Creek
. Crapo Farm even had its own rail depot.
In 1862, he was elected to the Michigan Senate
to represent Genesee County
, and ranked with the leading men of Michigan in the Civil War Senate.
In 1864, he was nominated on the Republican
ticket for Governor of Michigan
and was elected by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1866, holding the office two terms and retiring in January, 1869. His administration was very efficient and marked particularly by his vetoing railway aid legislation and his firm refusal to pardon convicts, except upon overwhelming proofs of their innocence or excessive sentence.
Crapo held office at the Farm's Mansion, Grassmoor.
. Current U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
(R-Idaho
) is distantly related to Henry Howland Crapo. They are first cousins, five times removed, as Henry's father, Jesse Crapo, and Mike's great-great-great grandfather, Charles Crapo, were brothers.
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:...
during the end of the American 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...
and the beginning of Reconstruction.
Early life in Massachusetts
Crapo was born to Jesse and Phoebe Crapo in Dartmouth, MassachusettsDartmouth, Massachusetts
Dartmouth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States established in 1664. The population was 30,665 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth....
. He spent his early years on his father's farm and then as a teacher in Dartmouth before moving to New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, where he became a land surveyor, and occasionally acted as an auctioneer. He was elected Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Collector of taxes, which office he held until the municipal government was changed, about fifteen years. Upon the inauguration of the city government, he was elected Treasurer and Collector of taxes, a position which he held two or three years. He was also 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 many years. He was elected Alderman of New Bedford, and was Chairman of Council Committee on Education, along with involvement in the whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
industry. A barque built at Dartmouth, of which he was part owner, was named the H. H. Crapo in compliment to him. On June 9, 1825, Crapo married Mary Ann Slocum. Together they had nine daughters and a son. Crapo became treasurer of New Bedford when it was incorporated as a city in 1847.
Crapo also took part in the State Militia, and for several years held a commission as Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of one of the regiments. He was President of the Bristol County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and Secretary of the Bedford Commercial Insurance Company in New Bedford. While an officer of the municipal government he compiled and published, between the years 1836 and 1845, five numbers of the New Bedford Directory, the first work of the kind ever published there.
Life and politics in Michigan
In 1856 Crapo moved to Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, primarily due to investments in pinelands, and became Flint's mayor in 1860. His family established a lucrative lumbering business in the area, which by the beginning of the Civil War was one of the largest individually owned lumber firms in the state. He was instrumental in the construction of the Flint and Holly Railroad
Flint and Holly Railroad
The Flint and Holly Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in eastern Michigan from 1863 to 1868. It was founded by Henry H. Crapo, a Massachusetts-born lumber merchant who served as Governor of Michigan . The line was originally chartered as the Flint and Fentonville Railroad on January 3,...
, and was President of that corporation until its consolidation with the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad
Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad
The Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad is a defunct railroad which operated in the U.S. state of Michigan between 1857 and 1899. It was one of the three companies which merged to become the Pere Marquette Railway.-Early history:...
.
Swamp land called "Gaines' Dead Marsh", or "Dead Man's Swamp" - about 1000 acres—was purchased by Henry Howland Crapo in 1860. The swamp, the source of the west branch of the Swartz Creek
Swartz Creek
Swartz Creek is a creek located in the Mid Michigan area in the United States. It is a tributary of the Flint River and has two branches, the East and West Branch. Its name comes from the German word Schwarz, meaning "black", as the creek water is muddy....
and its name, was drained. An effective settlement was established there with the Crapo Farm with most structures outside of the current boundaries of the City of Swartz Creek
Swartz Creek, Michigan
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 5,102 people, 2,233 households and 1,460 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,269.6 per square mile . There were 2,355 housing units at an average density of 586.0 per square mile...
. Crapo Farm even had its own rail depot.
In 1862, he was elected to 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....
to represent Genesee County
Genesee County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-75* I-475-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-13* M-15* M-21* M-54* M-57-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 436,141 people, 169,825 households, and 115,990 families residing in the county. The population density was 682 people per square mile . There were 183,630...
, and ranked with the leading men of Michigan in the Civil War Senate.
In 1864, he was nominated on the 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...
ticket for 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:...
and was elected by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1866, holding the office two terms and retiring in January, 1869. His administration was very efficient and marked particularly by his vetoing railway aid legislation and his firm refusal to pardon convicts, except upon overwhelming proofs of their innocence or excessive sentence.
Crapo held office at the Farm's Mansion, Grassmoor.
Retirement and death
While serving his last term he was attacked with a disease. A successful surgical operation was performed which seemed rapidly to restore him, but he overestimated his strength, and by too much exertion in business matters and State affairs suffered a relapse from which there was no rebound. Crapo died at the age of 65, nearly seven months after leaving office, at his home in Flint, and is interred there at Glenwood Cemetery.Notable descendants
His daughter, Rebecca, married William Clark Durant and their only son, William Crapo Durant (Billy Durant), became the leader of Flint's carriage and automobile industry as the founder of General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. Current U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
Mike Crapo
Michael Dean "Mike" Crapo is the senior United States Senator from the state of Idaho and a member of the Republican Party.Born in the city of Idaho Falls, Crapo is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Harvard Law School. He practiced law in his home city throughout the 1980s, while...
(R-Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
) is distantly related to Henry Howland Crapo. They are first cousins, five times removed, as Henry's father, Jesse Crapo, and Mike's great-great-great grandfather, Charles Crapo, were brothers.