John Adams Damon

 

     Among those men of sterling attributes of character who have impressed their personality upon the community of their residence and have  borne their fair share in the upbuilding and development of Isabella county, mention must not be omitted of John Adams Damon, the present popular and efficient county treasurer and well known business man of Isabella county.  He has exerted a strong influence for good, being a man of upright principles and desirous to see the advancement of the community along moral, educational and material lines.

     Mr. Damon was born June 4, 1850 in Madison, Lake county, Ohio.  He is the son of George and Mary (Tyler) Damon, both natives of Massachusetts, of which state their parents had long made their residence. 

There Mr. and Mrs. George Damon grew to maturity and were married, later moving to Pennsylvania, thence to Ohio.  The following children were born to them; Henry, who died in 1864, while in the Union army; Harrison, who resides in Massachusetts; Rev. W. C. of Oakland, California; Isaac T., of Millington, Michigan; George E., who died at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, February 15, 1910; Mary E., who married Wash Woodard, of Windsor, Wisconsin; Frances E., of Oakland, California; John A., of this review; Charles, who died at  Denver, Colorado, April 3, 1905; Martha, now Mrs. Frank Hulbert, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The parents of these children are both deceased, the father dying in 1860, and the mother in 1864, both dying in Wisconsin, where they moved from Ohio in 1855, locating near Madison.

     John A. Damon, of this review, was five years old when his parents moved to Wisconsin.  He obtained a good education at Madison and spent three years in the preparatory department   of the University of Wisconsin and one year as a freshman, making four years in all in the State University there.  He began his sophomore year, but was compelled to leave school on account of weakening eyes.  Being inclined to try the rosy path of literature, he devoted considerable attention to this work, and he taught school for two years near Madison, working on a farm during the summer months.  He later went to Beloit, Wisconsin, and was employed in a drug store as clerk there for four years, preparing to make the drug business his life work.  At this time he was married to Ella G. Jewett, May 10, 1873.  She is the daughter of Joseph L. and Sara Jewett.  Her people were from Vermont and New York, respectively.  She was born at Beloit, Wisconsin, May 10, 1853.  To this union these children have been born; Howard P., whose birth occurred at Beloit, July 31, 1874, is now a shoe salesman at Grand Rapids; Mabel G. was born in Millington, Michigan, on July 13, 1880, and she married Floyd Mitchell, of Weidman, Isabella county.

     After spending four years in Beloit, John A. Damon located at Millington, Tuscola county, Michigan, in the spring of 1876, and engaged in the drug and grocery business, he being a registered pharmacist.

     Mr. Damon has always been deeply interested in political matters and his genuine worth and public spirit has been recognized and appreciated by leaders in the Republican party.  While at Weidman Mr. Damon was active in organizing the first school district and later in the graded school district served on the school board continuously while there.  He was a member of the school board in Millington also.  He was selected as the party’s candidate for the state Legislature from the first district, Tuscola county, in 1886, and was duly elected, serving four years in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, winning a record in that important body of which anyone might well be proud.  He will long be remembered, among other things of service  he did there for the general public, by introducing the Damon liquor bill, designed to regulate the general liquor business of the state.  In 1890 he was in charge of branch of recorded indebtedness of the state of Michigan the eleventh census, having one assistant in each congressional district.   The financial interests of the state were carefully gone over in this work, and six months were spent in this undertaking.

     In the fall of 1891, Mr. Damon sold out his business and went to the state of Georgia, where he engaged in the manufacturing business, but returned to Michigan the following year.  He purchased a stock of drugs and wall paper at Hubbardston, Ionia county, where he remained two years, then moved his goods to Weidman, Isabella county, in the fall of 1894, where he put in a line of groceries.  He was burned out in June, 1897, but immediately rebuilt on a more extensive scale than formerly, and engaged in a general mercantile business, handling nearly everything but hardware.  He continued here with his usual success until December, 1906.  In the fall of that year he was elected county treasurer, and was re-elected in 1908, having made a splendid, record during his first term and he is now the incumbent of this office.  Selling out his business at Weidman, this county, he moved his family to Mt. Pleasant and he intends to make his future home here, though he has retained some business interests in Weidman, being connected with the Weidman Banking Company as vice-president.  He is also connected with the Holmes Milling Company there, being vice-president of this company also.  Since coming to this county he has been successfully engaged in business.  Mr. and Mrs. Damon have been for many years consistent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.