Henry Howland Crapo Papers, 1830-1920

Summary

Creator:

Crapo, Henry Howland, 1804-1869

Abstract:

Flint, Michigan industrialist; governor of Michigan, 1865-1868. Correspondence concerning land speculations, lumbering, and political activities; correspondence of his son primarily relating to estate and land holdings; speeches, notes and other papers detailing his gubernatorial administration; deeds and other papers concerning land purchases in Ohio, Iowa, and Michigan; newspaper clippings, biographical material and obituaries; journals, diaries, notebooks, letter book, political scrapbook, 1866-1869, executive journal of state of Michigan, 1865-1867, farm records and accounts; and photographs.

Extent:

15 microfilms (6.5 linear feet and 1 oversize folder)
5.5 linear feet
3 oversize volumes (not microfilmed)

Language:

English.

Call Number:

851633 Aa 2; AC; Ac

Authors:

Finding aid prepared by: Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The Crapo papers have been arranged into the following series: Correspondence; Personal and Biographical; Political; Business records; and Miscellaneous (mainly financial). The collection relates primarily to the career of Henry H. Crapo with the files dating after 1869 pertaining to the business activities and political activities of his son W. W. Crapo.

In 1992, the bulk of the Crapo papers was microfilmed. This finding aid begins with a listing of the contents of the microfilm followed by a container listing of those portions of the collection which were not microfilmed. For reasons of preservation, the researcher should use the microfilm copy. Access to the original materials will be limited to the unmicrofilmed portions of the Crapo papers.

Biographical / Historical:

Henry Howland Crapo, a native New Englander, served as mayor of the city of Flint, state senator for the 24th District, and governor of Michigan. His activities in the private sector, however, were perhaps as crucial to Michigan as his years spent in public service. Contemporaneously with his action in state politics, Crapo was one of the entrepreneurial businessmen who helped make Michigan the leading lumber producer of the nation for nearly three decades.

Henry Crapo was born at Dartmouth, Massachusetts on May 27, 1804 to a poor farming family. Henry, however, quickly exhibited the ambition and ability which would later mark his endeavors in Michigan. As a young man, he took control of the local schoolhouse and when it became a high school he became its principal.

In 1832, Crapo moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he taught himself the trade of surveying. In New Bedford he held many public offices and helped found the state's first free public library. He displayed a keen interest in horticulture and began investing in Michigan's pine lands in 1837. In 1856, after further investing in Michigan's timber resources, Crapo moved to Flint to better care for his business endeavors.

Once in Flint, Crapo devoted himself to developing one of the state's largest and most successful lumber businesses. He opened lumber manufacturers in Flint, Fentonville, Holly, and Detroit, and was instrumental in building the Flint & Holly Railroad. Once established in the community, Crapo served terms as Flint's mayor and represented his district in the state senate.

Crapo earned the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens and business associates alike, and in 1865 he was elected governor of Michigan. In 1868, riding a wave of popularity, he was elected to a second term.

Crapo's time at the state's helm was marked by his personal integrity and faithful service to the public. He earned admiration when he vetoed bills granting railroad aid legislation. His action in the railroad matter, though struck down by the state senate, was upheld by the Supreme Court. He was an active Republican from the time of the party's organization.

Crapo and his wife, Mary Ann (Slocum), had ten children. Their only son, William Wallace Crapo, would become a U.S. Congressman from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Henry Crapo died on July 27, 1869, after a long and debilitating illness.

Acquisition Information:

The bulk of the collection came to the library in 1935, donated by Henry Howland Crapo, Governor Crapo's grandson (donor number 1162 ). Additions were received in 1940, coming from Henry and William Crapo, Crapo's son (donor number 1060 ).

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Selective Index to Correspondents and Subjects

Aldrich, Nelson W. (Nelson Wilmarth), 1841-1915.	Letter, Nov. 29, 1887, to H.H. Crapo, about Crapo speaking before the Providence Board of Trade.
Anti-Saloon Republican National Committee.	Correspondence and circular, 1888, of the Anti-Saloon Republican National Committee.
Bacon, Daniel S., 1839-1866.	Letters of Nov. 5, 1855 and Dec. 13, 1855, chiefly on land matters.
Baker, Orrin	Letters, Sept. 2, 1845, Jan. 6, 1846, Sept. 7, 1846, Apr. 13, 1847, Aug. 9, 1847, Aug. 16, 1847, Jan. 17, 1848, Aug. 22, 1849, Sept. 25, 1849, and throughout the 1850s of Orrin Baker of Fairfield, Lenawee Co., Michigan about Crapo's land dealings in that area; also includes full and frequent comments on local news, weather, agriculture, etc.
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866.	Letter, April 1854, from P. W. Nims discussing Cass's railroad and land interests in Michigan.
Christiancy, Isaac Peckham, 1812-1890.	Nine letters, 1855-1856, from Isaac Christiancy dealing with land purchases and holdings in Monroe County; and one letter on railroad matters.
Crapo, David	Letters, 1853-1855, to Crapo from his brother David, who settled in Odessa, Michigan as a farmer and wrote fully about conditions there.
Crapo, Stanley T.	Correspondence of Stanley T. Crapo, grandson of H. H. Crapo, 1890s, mostly on matters connected with the Crapo farm near Flint.
Crapo, William Wallace, 1830-1926.	Letters from and to W. W. Crapo throughout the correspondence. The papers and correspondence from 1869 on are principally those of W. W. Crapo dealing mostly with business matters pertaining to his father's estate, but including some general correspondence, 1888-1890, while W. W. Crapo was a member of Congress from Massachusetts
Driggs, John F., 1813-1877.	Copy of a letter, April 15, 1864, of John Driggs, congressman about Crapo's candidacy for governor.
Driggs, William S.	Correspondence and other material of and relating to William S. Driggs, owner of the Driggs tract which was purchased by Crapo and associates in 1855 and marked the beginning of Crapo's lumbering career.
Duffield, D. Bethune (Divie Bethune), 1821-1891.	Letters, Jan.-Feb. 1867, from D. B. Duffield to Henry Crapo on railroad matters.
Elections-- Michigan--1862.	Information on the election of 1862, especially a letter, Nov. 10, 1862, of Henry Crapo to his son William Crapo.
Elections--Michigan--1888.	Letter, Nov. 7, 1888, of H. C. Potter, Jr. to William W. Crapo discussing the results of the election of 1888 in Michigan in considerable detail.
Fairfield (Mich.)	Letters in the 1840's and 1850's of Orrin Baker of Fairfield, Lenawee Co., about Crapo's land dealings in that area but including full and frequent comments on local news, weather, agriculture, etc.
Fenton, William M., 1808-1871.	Letters, March 17 and March 22, 1856, from William Fenton to Crapo chiefly about land matters.
Fentonville (Mich.)	Information about Fentonville in the correspondence for 1856-1857.
Flint and Holly Railroad Company.	Material in the correspondence, 1862-1864, on the building, financing, and operation of the Flint and Holly Railroad, of which Crapo was the chief promoter.
Flint and Pere Marquette Railway Company.	Material on the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad in the correspondence for 1862 and 1888; also some material in the other papers.
Gilman, Daniel Coit, 1831-1908.	Letter, March 3,1857, of Daniel Coit Gilman to W. W. Crapo, asking for reports of the Mass. farm and reform school and annual prison reports, for a paper he was writing on juvenile crime.
Green, Noah K., 1808-1886.	Copy of a letter, March 23, 1864, from Noah Green about Crapo's candidacy for governor.
Isle Royale Mining Company.	Reports to stockholders, Dec. 1, 1855 and Mar. 19, 1856, of the Isle Royale Mining Company.
Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company.	Letter, July 15, 1867, from. James Turner to H. H. Crapo concerning the Jackson, Lansing, and Saginaw Railroad.
Joy, James Frederick, 1810-1896.	Letter, March 4, 1867, from James F. Joy on Crapo's veto of the railroad bills.
Kalamazoo and Schoolcraft Railroad Company.	Material on the Kalamazoo and Schoolcraft Railroad in the correspondence for Jan. and Feb. 1867.
Kalamazoo County (Mich.)	Material on Kalamazoo County in the correspondence for the 1850's. Most of the letters deal with land.
Kellogg, John R., 1793-1868.	Letters of March 4 and 7, 1867, of John Kellogg on the Crapo veto of railroad legislation.
Land use--Michigan.	Correspondence in the 1840's and 1850's dealing with Crapo's land holdings and purchases in Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa, and giving a vivid picture of activity in land sales during the period.
Leach, DeWitt C., b. 1832.	Letter, June 25, 1868, from D. C. Leach on the possibility of Crapo being a candidate for the Senate that year; also copies of letters, April-May 1864, from C. D. Leach.
Ledyard, Henry, 1812-1880.	Letters of Nov. 6, and Dec. 26, 1855, of Henry Ledyard, concerning land purchases.
Lenawee County (Mich.)	Letters in the 1840's and 1850's of Orrin Baker of Fairfield, Lenawee Co., about Crapo's land dealings in that area including full and frequent comments on local news, weather, agriculture, etc.
Lumbering--Michigan.	Detailed materials on his lumbering interests in the correspondence for 1855-1869, and also material in the other papers.
Macomb County (Mich.)	Letters, especially one of September 18, 1854, discussing the Dutch settlement in Macomb county and other matters.
Marathon (Mich.)	Material on Marathon, especially Crapo's lumberyard there, in the correspondence and other papers.
Marquette & Ontonagon Railroad Company.	Material on the Marquette and Ontonagon Railroad pertaining to the railroad vetoes.
Mears, Charles B., 1814-1895.	Copy of a letter, March 24, 1864, on Crapo's candidacy for governor from Charles Mears.
Mercer, William, b. 1824.	Letters, 1855, from William Mercer of Ionia County, mostly about land matters.
Monroe County (Mich.)	Information about Monroe County, particularly about land sales there, in the correspondence for the 1850's.
Odessa (Mich.)	Letters, 1853-1855, to Crapo from his brother David who settled in Odessa, Michigan as a farmer and wrote fully about conditions there.
Pitcher, Zina, 1797-1872.	Letter, April 12, 1867, of Zina Pitcher, about Crapo's Veto of the Detroit Public Works Bill.
Railroads--Michigan.	Correspondence and other papers dealing with Michigan railroads, among them the Oakland and Ottawa Railroad, described in a letter of Dec. 28, 1854 and Apr. 2, 1855; Lansing and Saginaw Railroad, March 26, 1856; and much material on the Flint and Holly and the Flint and Pere Marquette; also papers and correspondence on Crapo's vetoes of the railroad acts.
Republican Party (Mich.)	Correspondence and other papers dealing with Crapo's term in the State Senate, two terms as Governor on the Republican ticket; also a letter, October 2, 1855, from Crapo to his son discussing the formation of the Republican Party In Massachusetts.
Roads--Michigan.	Letter of Crapo to his brother, dated Feb. 24, 1853, discussing the effect of plank roads on land prices.
Saginaw and Lansing Rail Road Company.	Letter, March 26, 1856, of G. G. Dorr to Crapo about the Lansing and Saginaw Railroad.
Salt industry and trade--Michigan	Material on salt drilling near Flint in the correspondence for 1862 and 1863.
Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874.	Copy of a letter, May 17, 1858, from Crapo to Smith re business dealings in lands; also copy of Gerrit Smith's answer, May 28, 1858; also copy of letter, May 31, 1858, to Smith from Crapo.
Smith, Humphrey Henry Howland Crapo.	Correspondence with Humphrey Smith, son-in-law and business associate of Gov. Crapo, particularly after 1866.
Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866.	Letter, July 5, 1853, from Jared Sparks about the purchase of western lands.
Standish, John H., b. 1816.	Letter, July 1, 1868, of John Standish, urging the Senatorial candidacy of Crapo.
Trowbridge, Rowland E., 1821-1881.	Letter, April 4, 1867, of Rowland Trowbridge on the public reaction to Crapo's veto of railroad legislation.
Turner, James, 1820-1869.	Letter, July 15, 1867, of James Turner on the Jackson, Lansing, and Saginaw Railroad.
United States. Army. Michigan Cavalry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1866)	correspondence, Mar. 1866, about obtaining the release from prison of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry and having them mustered out.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.	Correspondence relating to the Civil War's effect on business conditions, the drilling of Flint regiments, and the release from prison and mustering out of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry; also speeches to soldiers and clippings relating to Michigan's war effort.
Warner, William, 1812-1868.	Letter, August 14, 1867, about a constitutional convention.
Williams, Harvey, 1812-1867.	Letters, 1854-1856, of Harvey Williams of Eaton County, dealing principally with land matters.
Winchell, Alexander, 1824-1891.	Letter, March 22, 1866, from Winchell to H .H. Crapo about a geological survey of the Upper Peninsula.
Wisner, Moses, 1815-1863.	Correspondence, June 1858, with W. S. Driggs about dealings with Wisner.
Withey, Solomon L., 1820-1886.	Letters of S. L. Withey, especially one of June 20, 1868, about the Senatorial election.
Woodman, Jonathan J., b. 1825.	Letter, June 22, 1868, from Jonathan Woodman, on the possibility of Crapo being a candidate for the Senate that year.
Yellowstone National Park.	Letter, April 3, 1878, from P. W. Norris, superintendent of Yellowstone Park, to W. W. Crapo, then congressman from Massachusetts, requesting Crapo's good offices on the park protection bill then before the House appropriations committee

Subjects

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Subjects:

Agriculture -- Michigan.
Elections -- Michigan -- 1862.
Elections -- Michigan -- 1864.
Elections -- Michigan -- 1866.
Governors -- Michigan.
Land use -- Michigan.
Logging -- Michigan.
Lumbering -- Michigan.
Railroads -- Michigan.
Real estate business -- Michigan.
Roads -- Michigan.
Salt industry and trade -- Michigan.
Governors -- Michigan.

Formats:

Christmas cards.
Diaries.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Stereographs.

Names:

Anti-Saloon Republican National Committee.
Flint and Holly Railroad Company.
Flint and Pere Marquette Railway Company.
Isle Royale Mining Company.
Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company.
Kalamazoo and Schoolcraft Railroad Company.
Marquette & Ontonagon Railroad Company.
Michigan. Legislature.
Republican Party (Mich.)
Saginaw and Lansing Rail Road Company.
United States. Army. Michigan Cavalry Regiment, 3rd (1861-1866)
Crapo family.
Crapo, Henry Howland, 1804-1869.
Aldrich, Nelson W. (Nelson Wilmarth), 1841-1915.
Bacon, Daniel S., 1839-1866.
Baker, Orrin.
Cass, Lewis, 1782-1866.
Christiancy, Isaac Peckham, 1812-1890.
Crapo, David.
Crapo, Stanley T.
Crapo, William Wallace, 1830-1926.
Driggs, John F., 1813-1877.
Driggs, William S.
Duffield, D. Bethune (Divie Bethune), 1821-1891.
Fenton, William M., 1808-1871.
Giddings, Orrin N., 1814-1904.
Gilman, Daniel Coit, 1831-1908.
Green, Noah K., 1808-1886.
Joy, James F. (James Frederick), 1810-1896.
Kellogg, John R., 1793-1868.
Leach, DeWitt C., 1832-
Ledyard, Henry, 1812-1880.
Mears, Charles B., 1814-1895.
Mercer, William, 1824-
Pitcher, Zina, 1797-1872.
Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874.
Smith, Humphrey Henry Howland Crapo.
Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866.
Standish, John H., 1816-
Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-1869.
Trowbridge, Rowland E., 1821-1881.
Turner, James.
Ward, Eber Brock, 1811-1873.
Warner, William, 1812-1868.
Williams, Harvey, 1812-1867.
Winchell, Alexander, 1824-1891.
Wisner, Moses, 1815-1863.
Withey, Solomon L., 1820-1886.
Woodman, Jonathan J., 1825-

Places:

Adrian (Mich.)
Fairfield (Mich.)
Fentonville (Mich.)
Flint (Mich.)
Kalamazoo County (Mich.)
Lenawee County (Mich.)
Macomb County (Mich.)
Marathon (Mich.)
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1837-1950.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1845-1860.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865.
Michigan -- Politics and government -- 1866-1876.
Monroe County (Mich.)
Odessa (Mich.)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Yellowstone National Park.