History of Pontiac, (Oakland County) Michigan United States of America

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George Benjamin Merriman, astronomer, was born at Pontiac, Mich., April 15, 1834; son of Isaiah and Caroline P. (Dean) Merriman, and grandson of Joel Merriman, and of Benjamin and Betsey (Parker) Dean. He was graduated at Ohio Wesleyan university, A.B., 1863, A.M., 1866, and from the University of Michigan, A.M., 1864. He was assistant astronomer on the work of the Chili Astronomical expedition, 1864-66; assistant professor of mathematics in the University of Michigan, 1866-71; adjunct professor of physics there, 1871-75; professor of mathematics in Albion college, Mich., 1875-77, and professor of mathematics and astronomy in Rutgers college, New Brunswick, N.J., 1877-93. He was married, Aug. 11, 1891, to S. Gertrude Wright, daughter of Dr. Thos. L. Savin of Philadelphia, Pa. He was mathematician and astronomer in the U.S. Naval Observatory at Washington, D.C., 1893-94, and became director of the observatory at Appleton, Wis., in 1894. He was elected a member of the New York Mathematical society, and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Augustus Carpenter Baldwin, jurist, was born at Salina, Onondaga county, N.Y., Dec. 24, 1817. He removed to Michigan when that state was admitted to the union in 1837, and went immediately to Oakland county, where for the next five years he taught school and studied law, history and general literature. He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and established himself in his profession at Milford, Oakland county, but his growing practice required his presence at the county seat, and in 1849 he removed to Pontiac, where he afterwards resided. He was elected to the house of representatives of the state in 1843 and 1845, serving as speaker pro tempore in 1846. In 1862 he was chosen a representative to the 38th Congress as a Democrat and favored the adoption of the Thirteenth amendment to the constitution abolishing slavery. He was mayor of Pontiac in 1874, and from 1868 to 1886, was a member of the board of education of that city. In 1875 he was elected judge of the sixth judicial circuit of Michigan for the full term of six years. He presided for four years of his term, when he resigned and returned to his regular practice at the bar. Judge Baldwin was a delegate to the national Democratic convention at Charleston and Baltimore in 1860, delegate-at-large to the Chicago convention in 1864, delegate to the national peace convention in Philadelphia in 1866, and at different times a member of the Democratic state central committee. He was made a trustee of the Eastern Michigan asylum at Pontiac for the term expiring Jan. 1, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John D. Norton of Pontiac, Michigan, was born in Van Buren, Onondaga County, New York, December 18, 1842, and is the youngest of a family of four children. His father, Dudley Dorman Norton, was born in Hebron, Connecticut, in 1799. He removed to Onondaga County in 1822, and was married, January 24, 1824, to Margaret (Fry) Farrington. He followed the occupation of farming, for forty years. His death occurred in 1870, and that of his wife, in 1875. They were prominent members of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years. Mr. Norton passed the first twelve years of his life on a farm; then removed to the village of Baldwinsville, New York, making that his place of residence until 1867. His early education was obtained in the village school. He prepared for college at the Elbridge and Courtland academies, situated at Homer, New York; entered Hamilton College in 1863; whence he graduated in 1867. He was an active member of the college secret society known as the "Chi Psi." After leaving college, he started West, settling in St. Louis, where he engaged in the real estate business, and remained about three months. In 1868 he became largely interested in pine lands in the Western part of Michigan; and, since that time, has made the State his home. In 1874 he was elected, from the Third Representative District of Oakland County, to the Michigan Legislature, and was re-elected in 1876, serving upon the committees of Ways and Means, Railroads, and Education. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention held at St. Louis, in June, 1876; and was the member from Michigan, upon Rules and Permanent Organizations. He is a member of the Knights Templar, and also of the Knights of Pythias. His political views are in strict accordance with those of the Democracy. He was married, June 9, 1869, to Elizabeth C. Flower, of Pontiac. Mr. Norton still continues the business of dealing in pine lands, logs, and lumber. He is also connected with the banking business, being the largest stockholder, and Cashier, of the First National Bank of Pontiac, Michigan.

History of Pontiac, (Oakland County) Michigan

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