Stephen Mack
Encyclopedia
Stephen Mack was a merchant and politician. He was the brother of Lucy Mack Smith
and so the uncle of The Latter-day Saint founder Joseph Smith, Jr..
Stephen Mack was born June 15, 1766 in Marlow, New Hampshire
to Solomon Mack and Lydia Gates Mack. His father noted: "There were but four families in forty miles...As our children were wholly deprived of the privilege of schools, she took the charge of their education..." In 1779, not yet 13 years old (his father called him fourteen), he enlisted with his father and older brother Jason to serve on a privateer
in the American Revolutionary War
. His father related one incident when:
Stephen served on this trip in March 1779, and then served in the American Army from July 25, 1779 until August 31, 1779 with his brother Jason. He reenlisted, still aged only 15, for three years; serving from April 2, 1781 into 1783.
Mack settled in Tunbridge, Vermont
where he established a store in town and a farm where he lived in the country. He had a son Stephen Mack, Jr.
born 2 February 1798 in Tunbridge. Mack moved to Detroit, Michigan
in either 1800 or 1807. He left his family behind in Vermont where the children could be better schooled and established a string of merchant and business ventures in Michigan. In Detroit during the War of 1812
, he was given the captaincy of a company; however, the city was quickly surrendered to the British. Mack is said by his sister to have broken his sword over his knee and thrown it into the lake on hearing of the surrender. To save his property, his housekeeper housed British officers and pretended the house and business were her own.
After the war, Mack brought his family to Michigan. They briefly lived in Detroit before settling in Pontiac, Michigan
where Mack had a farm and a building firm as well as a sawmill and a flour mill. He is said to have at his own expense paid for the extension of Woodward Avenue to Pontiac, then a major road in Detroit. He also built a sawmill in Rochester, Michigan
and had ventures in Ohio.
He entered into a partnership which was known as Mack & Conan which remained in business until 1821 when it was bought out by its chief competitor the American Fur Company
.
In 1812 he became a trustee of the village of Detroit and later a director of the Bank of Michigan. He was referred to as Major by a neighbor and called Colonel in his obituary.
He died after an illness of four days and left an estate of fifty thousand dollars.
The major thoroughfare, Mack Avenue, in Detroit is named after him.
Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith was the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She is most noted for writing an award-winning memoir: Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations. She was an important leader of the movement during...
and so the uncle of The Latter-day Saint founder Joseph Smith, Jr..
Stephen Mack was born June 15, 1766 in Marlow, New Hampshire
Marlow, New Hampshire
Marlow is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 742 at the 2010 census. Marlow is home to Honey Brook State Forest.-History:...
to Solomon Mack and Lydia Gates Mack. His father noted: "There were but four families in forty miles...As our children were wholly deprived of the privilege of schools, she took the charge of their education..." In 1779, not yet 13 years old (his father called him fourteen), he enlisted with his father and older brother Jason to serve on a privateer
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. His father related one incident when:
- "My son Stephen, in company with the cabin boys, was sent to a house, not far from the shore, with a wounded man...A woman was engaged in frying cakes at the time, and being somewhat alarmed, she concluded to retire into the cellar, saying, as she left, that the boys might have the cakes, as she was going below. The boys were highly delighted at this, and they went to work cooking and feasting upon the lady’s sweet cakes, while the artillery of the contending armies was thundering in their ears, dealing out death and destruction on every hand. At the head of this party of boys was Stephen Mack, my second son, a bold and fearless stripling of fourteen."
Stephen served on this trip in March 1779, and then served in the American Army from July 25, 1779 until August 31, 1779 with his brother Jason. He reenlisted, still aged only 15, for three years; serving from April 2, 1781 into 1783.
Mack settled in Tunbridge, Vermont
Tunbridge, Vermont
Tunbridge is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,309. The town consists of three village centers, all situated on Vermont Route 110 in the valley of the first branch of the White River...
where he established a store in town and a farm where he lived in the country. He had a son Stephen Mack, Jr.
Stephen Mack, Jr.
Stephen Mack, Jr.. adventurer and pioneer, American Fur Company employee, founder of Rockton, Illinois.-Background and early life 1798-1819:...
born 2 February 1798 in Tunbridge. Mack moved to Detroit, Michigan
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 either 1800 or 1807. He left his family behind in Vermont where the children could be better schooled and established a string of merchant and business ventures in Michigan. In Detroit 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...
, he was given the captaincy of a company; however, the city was quickly surrendered to the British. Mack is said by his sister to have broken his sword over his knee and thrown it into the lake on hearing of the surrender. To save his property, his housekeeper housed British officers and pretended the house and business were her own.
After the war, Mack brought his family to Michigan. They briefly lived in Detroit before settling in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
where Mack had a farm and a building firm as well as a sawmill and a flour mill. He is said to have at his own expense paid for the extension of Woodward Avenue to Pontiac, then a major road in Detroit. He also built a sawmill in Rochester, Michigan
Rochester, Michigan
Rochester is an affluent city in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census...
and had ventures in Ohio.
He entered into a partnership which was known as Mack & Conan which remained in business until 1821 when it was bought out by its chief competitor the American Fur Company
American Fur Company
The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...
.
In 1812 he became a trustee of the village of Detroit and later a director of the Bank of Michigan. He was referred to as Major by a neighbor and called Colonel in his obituary.
He died after an illness of four days and left an estate of fifty thousand dollars.
The major thoroughfare, Mack Avenue, in Detroit is named after him.