John T. Rich | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 23rd Governor of Michigan | |
| In office January 1, 1893 – January 1, 1897 | |
| Lieutenant | J. Wight Giddings Alfred Milnes Joseph R. McLaughlin |
| Preceded by | Edwin B. Winans |
| Succeeded by | Hazen S. Pingree |
| 28th Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office 1877–1880 | |
| Governor | Charles Croswell |
| Preceded by | John P. Hoyt |
| Succeeded by | Seth C. Moffatt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 7th district | |
| In office April 5, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | |
| Preceded by | Omar D. Conger |
| Succeeded by | Ezra C. Carleton |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Lapeer County district | |
| In office 1873–1880 | |
| Preceded by | Horace D. Rood |
| Succeeded by | George Davenport |
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 20th district | |
| In office January 1, 1881 – March 21, 1881 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph B. Moore |
| Succeeded by | William W. Andrus |
| 24th Michigan State Treasurer | |
| In office 1908–1908 | |
| Governor | Fred M. Warner |
| Preceded by | Frank P. Glazier |
| Succeeded by | Albert E. Sleeper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Treadway Rich April 23, 1841 Conneautville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 1926 (aged 84) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mt. Hope Cemetery, Lapeer, Michigan |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lucretia |
| Relations | Charles Rich (grandfather) |
John Treadway Rich (April 23, 1841 – March 28, 1926) was an American politician serving as a U.S. Representative and the 23rd governor of Michigan.
Rich was born in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, the son of John W. Rich and Jerusha Treadway Rich. John Treadway Rich's middle name is mistakenly given as "Tyler", perhaps because he was born just nineteen days after John Tyler became U.S. president upon the death of William Henry Harrison. In 1846, he moved with his parents to Addison County, Vermont, and two years later they moved to Elba Township, Michigan. He attended the public schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. On March 12, 1863, he married Lucretia M. Winship.
Rich was a member and chairman of the board of supervisors of Lapeer County, 1869–1872. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1873–1881, and served as speaker of the house during the last two terms. He was also a delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1873, 1875, and 1878.
Rich served in the Michigan Senate from January 1, 1881, until March 21, 1881, when he resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 47th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Omar D. Conger, serving from April 5, 1881, to March 4, 1883. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the 48th Congress. He later served as State Railroad Commissioner, 1887–1891, and a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1884 to elect James G. Blaine and 1892 to re-elect Benjamin Harrison as U.S. president, both of whom lost to Democrat Grover Cleveland.
Rich served as Governor of Michigan from 1893 to 1897. During his four years in office, a railroad strike, as well as an iron mine strike occurred. Also, three members of the State Canvassing Board were fired for falsifying returns on a salary raise vote for state officeholders.
After leaving office, he served as United States collector of customs at Detroit from February 16, 1898, to January 30, 1906. He was elected State Treasurer of Michigan to fill a vacancy and served from January 23, 1908, to January 1, 1909. He was then collector of customs at Port Huron from December 11, 1908, to May 30, 1913.
Rich died in St. Petersburg, Florida, and is interred at Mount Hope Cemetery of Lapeer, Michigan.
