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| Affiliation | Fusion |
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| Name | Josiah W. Begole |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
January 20, 1815
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| Died | June 05, 1896
(81 years)
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| Contributor | ... |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Sep 15, 2015 04:07am |
| Tags |
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| Info | In 1870, Gov. Begole was nominated by acclamation for the office of State Senator, and elected by a large majority. In that body he served on the Committees of Finance and Railroads, and was Chairman of the Committee on the Institute for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind. He took a liberal and public spirited view of the importance of a new capitol building worthy of the State, and was an active member of the Committee that drafted the bill for the same. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention held at Philadelphia in 1872, and was the chosen member of that delegation to go to Washington and inform Gen. Grant and Senator Wilson of their nominations. It was while at that convention that, by the express wish of his many friends, he was induced to offer himself a candidate for the nomination of member to the 43d Congress, in which he was successful, After competing for the nomination with several of the most worthy, able and experienced men in the Sixth Congressional District, and was elected by a very large majority. In Congress, he was a member of the Committee on Agricultural and Public Expenditures. Being one of the 17 farmers in that Congress, he took an active part in the Committee of Agriculture, and was appointed by that committee to draft the most important report made by that committee, and upon the only subject recommended by the President in his message, which he did and the report was printed in records of Congress; he took an efficient though an unobtrusive part in all its proceedings.
He voted for the currency bill, remonetization of silver and other financial measures, many of which, though defeated then, have since become the settled policy of the country. Owing to the position which Mr. Begole occupied on these questions, he became a "Greenbacker."
In the Gubernatorial election of 1882, Mr. Begole was the candidate of both the Greenback and Democratic parties, and was elected by a vote of 154,269, the Republican candidate, Hon. David H. Jerome, receiving 149,697 votes. Mr. Begole, in entering upon his duties as Governor, has manifested a spirit that has already won him many friends, and bids fair to make his administration both successful and popular.
The very best indications of what a man is, is what his own townsmen think of him. We give the following extract from the Flint Globe, the leading Republican paper in Gov. Begole's own county, and it, too, written during the heat of a political campaign, which certainly is a flattering testimonial of his sterling worth:
"So far, however, as Mr. Begole, the head of the ticket, is concerned, there is nothing detrimental to his character that can be alleged against him. He has sometimes changed his mind in politics, but for sincerity of his beliefs and the earnestness of his purpose nobody who knows him entertains a doubt. He is incapable of bearing malice, even against his bitterest political enemies. He has a warm, generous nature, and a larger, kinder heart does not beat in the bosom of any man in Michigan. He is not much given to making speeches, but deeds are more significant of a man's character than words. There are many scores of men in all parts of the State where Mr. Begole is acquainted, who have had practical demonstrations of these facts, and who are liable to step outside of party lines to show that they do not forget his kindness, and who, no doubt, wish that he was leader in what would not necessarily prove a forlorn hope. But the Republican party in Michigan is too strong to be beaten by a combination of Democrats and Greenbackers, even if it is marshaled by so good a man as Mr. Begole."
This sketch would be imperfect without referring to the action of Mr. B. at the time of the great calamity that In 1881 overtook the people of Northeastern Michigan, in a few hours desolating whole counties by fire, and destroying the results and accumulations of such hard work as only falls to the lot of pioneers. While the Port Huron and Detroit committees were quarreling over the distribution of funds, Mr. Begole wrote to an agent in the "burnt district " a letter, from which we make an extract of but a single sentence: "Until the differences between the two committees are adjusted and you receive your regular supplies from them, draw on me. Let no man suffer while I have money." This displays his true character.
BEGOLE, Josiah Williams, a Representative from Michigan; born in Groveland, Livingston County, N.Y., January 20, 1815; attended the public schools in Mount Morris and Temple Hill Academy, Geneseo, N.Y.; moved to Flint, Genesee County, Mich., in August 1836; taught school in 1837 and 1838; engaged in agricultural pursuits from 1839 to 1856; school inspector; justice of the peace and township treasurer; county treasurer 1856-1864; engaged in the lumber business in 1863; member of the State senate in 1870 and 1871; member of the city council for three years; delegate to the Republican National Convention at Philadelphia in 1872; elected as a Republican to the Forty-third Congress (March 4, 1873-March 3, 1875); was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress; resumed the lumber business and later engaged in the manufacture of wagons; also engaged in banking; Governor of Michigan 1883-1885; resumed his former business activities; died in Flint, Mich., June 5, 1896; interment in Glenwood Cemetery.
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