Alex Groesbeck
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Joseph Groesbeck (March 7, 1873 [1] –March 10, 1953) was an American politician. [2]
Groesbeck was born in Warren, Michigan, the son of Macomb County Sheriff Louis Groesbeck and his wife Julia (Coquillard) Groesbeck.[2] Groesbeck attended the public schools of Mount Clemens, Michigan, and of Wallaceburg, Ontario, where his parents resided for two years with their family. Groesbeck wanted to become a lawyer from an early age, and undertook the study of law in the office of an attorney at Port Huron, Michigan. He went on to earn a LL.B. degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1893. He was admitted to the bar that year and set up practice in Detroit where he rapidly gained the "respect, goodwill and confidence of his colleagues, because of his close conformity to the highest ethical standards of the profession".[1]
Groesbeck's entrance into state politics came in 1912, when he led efforts to select a delegation to the Republican National Convention favorable to the renomination of U.S. President William Howard Taft. Groesbeck also actively led the party faction supporting Taft in the general election. In the same year, Groesbeck was elected the state party chairman, serving until 1914. [1] He was a candidate for Governor of Michigan in 1914, but lost in the Republican primary election to Chase S. Osborn.[3]
In 1916, he was elected Michigan Attorney General, and was re-elected in 1918. In 1920, he won the Republican primary election and defeated Democrat Woodbridge N. Ferris in the general election. After being re-elected in 1922 and 1924, Groesbeck lost to Fred W. Green in the 1926 Republican primary election.[4] He was defeated in the 1930 Republican primary election by Wilber M. Brucker. [5]
In addition to Groesbeck's political work, he was one of the builders of the Flint-Saginaw Interurban Railway.[1]
In 1925, Groesbeck vetoed legislation that would have created a state poet laureate. TIME magazine reported:[6]
Forgetful of the state poets of republican Athens, the Governor's historical knowledge led him to describe the bill as "a reversion to monarchical customs" which "has no place in a republican form of government."
Groesbeck died in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, and is buried there at Woodlawn Cemetery.[2] He was a member of the Detroit Bar Association, the Michigan Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and in club circles was well known as a member of the Detroit Club and the Detroit Athletic Club.[1]
Groesbeck Avenue (M-97) was named for the governor, both because of the local prominence of the Groesbeck family in Macomb county and because of his strong support for building roads and highways in Michigan.[7] [8]
| Preceded by: Albert Sleeper |
Governor of Michigan 1921–1927 |
Succeeded by: Fred Green |
| Governors of Michigan |  |
|---|---|
| Territorial: Hull • Cass • Porter • Mason • Horner
Mason • Woodbridge • Gordon • Barry • Felch • Greenly • Ransom • Barry • McClelland • Parsons • Bingham • Wisner • Blair • Crapo • Baldwin • Bagley • Croswell • Jerome • Begole • Alger • Luce • Winans • Rich • Pingree • Bliss • Warner • Osborn • Ferris • Sleeper • Groesbeck • Green • Brucker • Comstock • Fitzgerald • Murphy • Fitzgerald • Dickinson • Van Wagoner • Kelly • Sigler • Williams • Swainson • Romney • Milliken • Blanchard • Engler • Granholm |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Burton, Clarence M. editor-in-chief [1922] (2005). “s.v. Alexander J. Groesbeck”, The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library, pp. 668-271. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
- ^ a b c s.v. Groesbeck, Alexander Joseph (1873-1953). The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
- ^ Michigan: Governors, 1910s. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
- ^ Michigan: Governors, 1920s. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
- ^ Michigan: Governors, 1930s. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
- ^ Free Fights, No Laureate. TIME Magazine Archive Article (1925-05-18). Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
- ^ s.v. M-97. Michigan Highways.
- ^ Governor Groesbeck: Road Builder and Defender of School Choice. Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
