12 Facts About Epaphroditus Ransom

Epaphroditus Ransom was an American politician who served as the seventh governor of Michigan and as a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.

Epaphroditus Ransom was the fourth of twelve children and was educated at various schools in New England, such as Chester Academy of Vermont for four years.

Epaphroditus Ransom studied at Northampton Law School in Northampton, Massachusetts receiving his degree in 1823, and then began his own practice in Townshend, Vermont.

Epaphroditus Ransom married Almira Cadwell on February 21,1827, in Montpelier, Vermont, and they had four children, yet two would die during infancy.

Epaphroditus Ransom was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, but after seeing his siblings move to Michigan Territory as well as receiving advice from former Vermonter and Michigan Territorial delegate, Lucius Lyon, decided instead to move his family there in 1834.

Epaphroditus Ransom took up farming and other business ventures and soon became active in politics.

Epaphroditus Ransom served in the state legislature and became that area's first circuit court judge, riding horseback through the wilderness to hear cases.

In 1848, Epaphroditus Ransom resigned from the court after being elected governor, and was the first governor to be inaugurated in Lansing, Michigan, after the state capitol moved there from Detroit.

Epaphroditus Ransom was elected again to the state legislature in 1853 and 1854.

Epaphroditus Ransom was the first president of the Michigan Agricultural Society, which was instrumental in the creation of both the Michigan State Fair and Michigan State University.

Epaphroditus Ransom served as regent of the University of Michigan from 1850 to 1852 and was a co-founder of the village of Augusta, Michigan.

Epaphroditus Ransom died at the age of 61 in Fort Scott and is interred at Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo.