The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-05-20

siOner was the telegram from Governor
Luce announcing the coming appointment
The gubernatorial campaign of 1890 was a
further attestatlOn OF his unwillingness to
scramble for place, his position at that time
being dgnified in the extreme. He was an
avowed candidate, but he felt that II the re-
publcans of Michigan wanted him as their
standard-bearer they would nominate him.
And that was the attitude he maintained.
When still young man his neighbors mani
Tested their appreciation of his sterling
worth by electing him for four successive
years to represent them on the county board
of supervisors, an Office of 10 financial
profit but of considerable responsibility.
His colleagues discovered the existence of
that good Judgment and sense of fairness
which characterized his later public life and
for the last two years of his connection with
the bOard-in 1871 and 1S72--made him
their chairman. In 1872 he was elected to
the lower house of the state Legislature from
the First District OF Lapeer county. During
his membership Of the house, covering an
unusually long period of six years, he
served on some of the most important COM
mttees. He was chairman OF the commit
tee on Agricultural College, a recognition of
his prominence among farmers; chairman or
the very important committee on state af-
grossment and enrolment and state public
school. During the sessions of 1877 and
1879 he occupied the exceedingly honorable
and responsible position of speaker of the
house, an honor only conferred upon the
most popular and best equipped members
of the body. He was the last speaker i'm the
old state capitol and the first to preside over
the house i'm its elegant new hall. He
achieved an enyiable reputation both as
legislator and parliamentarian, making his
mark as well for his sound common sense
as for his ability as presiding officer, in
which capacity none OF his decisions were
ever Overruled. In the chair he was atfable,
agreeable and courteous, and easily and COM
petely commanded the respect of all for his
ability, promptness i'm making decisions and
his fairness. The last time he was chosen
speaker Notwithstanding the fact that the
opposition had presented a caucus candi-
date for speaker, by way of a compliment,
two democrat members cast their votes for
Mr.. Rich.
HE WAS CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.
In the republican state convention of
| 1880, Mr.. Rich i'm common with Honorable
Thomas w. Palmer, Honorable Francis b.
| Stockbridge, Rice A. Beal, of Washtenaw,
| Honorable Charles II. Gorham, of Calhoun
| and David III. Jerome of Saginaw, was
= candidate for gubernatOrial honOrs. But
Mr.. Jerome, being chosen on the tenth bal
| lot, had no warmer supporter or harder
fighter for his election than Mr.. Rich who
was always true to his party, has invariably
been found in the thickest of the fight no
matter who the nominee was. In the fall
of 1880 Mr.. Rich was elected to the state
senate and here again his reputation for
efficiency and conscientiOusness i'm the per-
Torrance of every duty was seen in his APP
pointment to.the craftsmanship of the COM
mittee on finance and appropriation, most
important committee i'm that it is called
upon to scrutniZe expenditures Of public
funds. With such man as John Il. Rich
on guard in that position, little danger
would there be that extravaganza would be
known. He was also a member of the com
mittee on state house of correction. After
| hi election to congress to succeed Mr..
Conger he resigned his seat in the state
senate and prepared to go to Washington 10
enter upon the performance of his duties.
Before his departure his former colleagues
i'm the senate presented him with an elegant
gold watch and chain. This, following the
presentation, at the close of the session in
1877, of an album containing the photo
graphs of all the state officers and members
of the Legislature and of handsome silver
service at the end of 1879 session, showed
the esteem in which Mr.. Rich was held by
his associates in the legislature.
HIS CAREER IN CONGRESS.
His congressional career was characterized
by the same faithfulness and assiduity in
the performance of every duty that distin-
guished him at Lansing. Although men,
Der for only one term, and consequently
with no opportunity to make himself espec-
tally prominent, his career at Washington
was nevertheless honorable and intelligent.
He came to the front as an advocate of the
agricultural interests of the country. His
long legislative experience had equipped
him especially for service and the many and
diversified interests of the Seventh District
received thorough attention at his hands.
While i'm Washington Mr.. and Mrs. Rich
occupied modest apartments and in contra
distinction with the average congressman
and greatly to Mr.. Rich's credit, be it said,
he is said to have not only lived within his
salary but, out OF it, to have had balance
OH the right side of the ledger at the close.
He was renOminated by reclamation I'm
1882 but, through no fault of his own or loss
of popularity, was defeated by e. Z. Garlic
ton by 2S8 votes.
Returning home Mr.. Rich settled down
to farm life again, devoting himself to his
occupation and to the various phases of
farm life, sheep raising, etc., in which he
has always been active. He has been and
still is vice president of the National Wool
Growers Association, president of the Mich
igan Merino Sheep Breeders Association,
and as such was appointed as p delegate to
appear before the committee OH ways and
means of Congress i'm behalf of the wool
growing industry. He is also president of
the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Com
pany of Lapeer county. He was elected
president of the State Agricultural Society
i'm 1890 and his splendid management caused
his reelection in 1891. He has also been
treasurer of the Northeastern Agricultural
Society from its organization up to the pres
ent time. All these positions of honor have
fallen to him without solicitation and solely
because of his prominence in the fields rep
resented. They all attest to his popularity,
and, moreover, are recognition Of bis high