The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-05-20
OF GENTLE WAYS AND TRUE.
Something About John T. Rich, the
Farmer and Statesman.
A LIFE OF GREAT USEFULNESS
In Which There Is Not a Stain of Du-
plicity or Dishonesty of Any Sort.
Detroit Tribune.

plicity or Dishonesty of Any Sort
Detroit Tribune.
For forty four years resident of the old
homestead, planted by his father In the will
derness and by himself cleared up and devel-
Oped into one of the Lest Monuments to the
thriftiness OF man that can be found IN
Michigan; as a farmers boy, liked by all; as
school teacher in the country districts, gen
orally popular, and, as Il man looked upon
universally as good citizen, kind
neighbor and an honest man-what grander
tribute could be paid any mortal?
OF all of the distinguished men Of the
state it is probable that no one is closer to
the people than John Il. Rich. Indeed the
most conspicuous feature of the go0d-natur-
ed republican gubernatorial contest i'm which
Mr.. Rich is so prominent figure, is the de-
mand that comes from all quarters that he
bethe standard bearer because of his strength
with the rank and file who have confidence
i'm him. He arose from the people and no
aristocratic notions have ever been attributed
to him. He is a thoroughly self-made man,
and one whose honesty of purpose, fair sense
of honor and splendid integrity have never
been questioned. Add to these q sincere
and generous manhood, actuated by the
best of impulses and the distinguishing
characteristics of John L. Rich's long and
honorable public career are at hand
Mr.. Rich is farmer in the best sense of
that term. Born and raised on a farm he
has that thorough and practical knowledge
only thus attained. He has walked between
the handles of the pillow from bOyhOod,
studying the best means to make farming
successful. His appointment to position
on the wool commission was testimony to
an appreciation of the fact that he is an
authority on that phase of farm life. In
deed, he is one of the most successful wool
growers i'm the state, his well bred flock be-
ing sufficient evidence of this fact. His
farm i'm the township of Elba, Lapeer Co.,
is beautifully situated and contains 800 well
cultivated acres. His buildings are ample
but no better than those of the average we'll
tO-dO farmer of Michigan. Mr.. Rich is
happy in his home life. His private life is
without stain and in all his political and pub
lie career no faint of bargain or breath of
scandal has 0bscured his name.
His parents were natives of old rock-rib
bed Vermont, the mother of many brave,
hardy pioneers whose sturdy character has
been indellibly stamped on the cary history
and development of the peninSular state.
They were born at Shoreham and united in
marriage in February, 1889, at COnneaut-
vile, Crawford County, Penn, where on
The family returned to ShOreham in 1916, the
mother dying i'm Augusta of the following
year. In May of 1913 the lad, only seven years
of age, came alone to Michigan to live with
relatives. Here he has resided ever since,
contributing to the states development and
participating in its prosperity. In Nov
ember following his arrival his father came
and purchased the farm where the son now
resides and where the father died i'm 1872.
The early life of the mOtherless lad was
counterpart of the lives of those hardy
pioneers who endured the hardshps Incl
dent to the transformation of the wilderness
into civilization and the struggles of whom
while developing the material side of the
state at the same time nourished the splendid
manhood and wOmanhOOd of the pioneers
and their children. He worked hard cary
and late, on the farm. Summers rising and
retiring early and thus laying the founda-
ton for that splendid physique that distin-
cuisines him in his later life. BY attending
the country school in the winter time Rich
secured rudimentary education. and with
it came thirst for further knowledge that
demanded wider opportunities, which were
not realized except in limited way. In
1857 he attended the Charleston Academy
for term of twelve weeks, and later the
Lapeer High School for three terms. This
comparatively limited schooling, accompan-
led, however, by natural brightness and an
aptitude for books, and by reading and
study at home when the days work was
done was the basis of his education. 1t was
considered sufficient, however, to entitled
him to teachers certificate and for foul
terms he presided with success oyer one OF
the country schools.
HE LIVED QUIET LIFE.
Mr. Rich was married March IL, 1868, to
Miss Lucretia Winship, of Atlas, Genesee
county. For nearly thirty years since his
marriage he has lived, with his good help
mate, the quiet, home life of the farm no
other business or profession allurmg MIN
from his natural and chosen pursuit. A
sensible, progressive farmer, he has looked
upon his occupation as business pure and
simple, and no one ever heard him complain
or the hard lot, so called, of the tiller of the
soil. By constant study of the various
phases of farming, by the application OF
common sense to the management or MS
large property, by diversificatiOn OF crops,
and by recognition of these cardinal prin-
ciples that nowdays distinguishes the mod
ern, thrifty and prosperous farmer from the
shiftless class, he has not only succeeded IN
developing his broad acres and Laying up
penny for rainy day." but has risen step
by step i'm the estimation of his neighbors
and the people of the state, recognized
through their suffrages as faithful to all
trusts reposed in him, until today as fol
many years past he stands as representa-
tive farmer and man of Michigan.
Mr.. Rich has been frequent Office
holder, but it is fact that in nearly every
instance the place has sought the man
and not the man the place. Honors have
been conferred upon him without solicita
-. An ahn,uinn this IL Is stated that his