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JOHN JUDSON BAGLEY
BY GEORGE H. HOPKINS
June 7, 1882
His noble, generous nature made his innumerable benefactions a source of continuous pleasure. Literally, to him it was "more blessed to give than to receive. "
His greatest enjoyment was in witnessing the comfort and happiness of others. Not a tithe of his charities were known to his most intimate friends, or even to his family. -Many a needy one has been the recipient of aid at an opportune moment, who never knew the hand that gave.
At one time a friend had witnessed his ready response to some charitable request, and said to him: "Governor, you give away a large sum of money; about how much do your charities amount to in the course of a year ?" He turned at once and said: "I do not know, sir; I do not allow myself to know. I hope I gave more this year than I did last, and hope I shall give more next year than I have this. " This expressed his idea of charity, that the giving should at all times be free and spontaneous.
Anything like a stated amount, at stated intervals, or at stated times, was making charity a mere matter of business—a cool calculation of dollars and cents. Literally, his left hand did not know what his right hand was doing.
His state papers were models of compact, business-like statements, bold, original, and brimful of practical suggestion, and his administration will long be considered as among the ablest in this or any other State.
He had, probably, a larger circle of personal acquaintances throughout the State, than any other man. He believed in the people, and the people loved and believed in him. He was proud of his Pilgrim parentage, and for many years took especial delight in his visits to New England, and they were so many and frequent, that to certain portions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire his massive form and kindly face were almost as familiar as to the people of his own State. He visited Plymouth Rock with a feeling akin to that with which the devotee visits Rome.
Michigan
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