MOST of men who leave their mark on society and institutions have features of character more or less peculiar. Few do it without strength of will and adherence to settled purposes. But the methods which strong-willed men use to do their work are not uniform, and each puts some part of himself into all that he does. It is well for mankind, as it is for one's memory, when pleasant associations and grateful recollections attend the name of a man who has labored effectually before he passed away. Governor Bagley's name will be remembered by many hearts that he lightened, and many for whom he made life more tolerable.

John Judson Bagley was born at Medina, Orleans county, New York, July 24, 1832. His father, John Bagley, was a native of Dunham, Green county, New York. He came from a New England family, of English descent, settled in New Hampshire. His grandfather, Captain John Bagley, and a brother, Cutting Bagley, moved into Greene county soon after the Revolution, and had farms on the eastern slope of the Catskills, a few miles from the Hudson, where his father grew up to manhood. His father's mother, Olive Judson (from whom he derived his middle name) was a relative of the celebrated missionary, Adoniram Judson, and his father's

grandmother was descended from Rev. Thomas Hooker, one of the prominent Connecticut divines of the seventeenth century.

Governor Bagley's father moved from Medina to Lockport while he was but a child, and in 1840 came to Michigan and settled in Constantine. He had been prosperous, but met heavy losses from the failures of others, and moved into this State to find the favorable prospects of a new country. He was a man of intelligence and strict probity, and his wife was a woman of good education and much force of character, whose influence upon her children was great and lasting. She was a devout member of the Episcopal church, and attached to it strongly.

Governor Bagley's school education, aside from his mother's teaching, was interrupted when he reached the age of fourteen, and, thereafter, he was constantly employed in some kind of work. His father moved to Owosso, in Shiawassee county, where John had already become an inmate of the family of Dr. Barnes, who had been an old friend in Lockport, and was a schoolmate of his children. Until he became sixteen years old he was employed as a clerk in the store of Dewey & Goodhue.

Being ambitious to find occupation in a larger place he came to Detroit in

1848, where his letters written at that time show that he was moved by a more than ordinary share of youthful enthusiasm, and expressed his hopes and belief in the capabilities of the future in a way that is not uncommon, but which was evidently in him the indication of a resolute determination to succeed. He was well grown of his age, with large bright eyes and a countenance that made people disposed to like him. He had the singularly good fortune of striking at once the employment which was the chief business of his after life, and out of which in due time he made a fortune.

The tobacco industry was then hardly known in the northern cities west of New York. The tobacco growing states had not become as accessible as now, the system of railways being comparatively undeveloped, and capital being also very limited outside of the commercial centres. A small factory had been started, in 1840, by George Miller who was succeeded by his father, Isaac S. Miller, in whose hands the business began to grow to respectable dimensions. Nevertheless the industry was too small to furnish a great deal of trade by itself, and was combined with all the branches of an old-fashioned tobacconist's dealings. While going about the city and observing the varied scenes of the streets and shops, young Bagley happened to be attracted by something in Mr. Miller's windows, and stopped to look in, when the owner noticing it accosted him and made inquiry about him. The lad at once said he wanted employment, and Mr. Miller, liking his

ways, without further ado employed him. Here he remained until he reached majority. The limited scope of the enterprise enabled him to become familiar with every detail, and his habits of close observation and his retentive memory very soon gave to him a mastery of the whole range of processes, and an acquaintance with the markets, which already began to justify larger enterprises. While yet under age he engaged in and had principal charge of the outside business of the house, and traveled extensively in and out of the state. This made him acquainted with the business men in all quarters, and made him many friends who in his subsequent career did him great service. He became known everywhere as a thorough business man, of genial ways and correct habits, a good observer of men and public spirited even in his youth. In the west everybody was a politician.

During this period, as afterward, he had a strong love of reading, and made many sacrifices to purchase as he could the chief works of English and American history and literature. The books slowly acquired were thoroughtly read and remembered. At this time the Detroit Young Men's Society was in active existence, and had a very good library. He became a member of this society and enjoyed eagerly the access which it gave him to the wide range of literature and science. His mother had always encouraged him to spend his time in this way, and through his life he was a great reader and uncommonly well informed on the subjects that interest intelligent