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A SKETCH OF LUCIUS LYON by GEORGE H. WHITE
Emigrants had been coming in until it was believed that the portion of the territory constituting the lower peninsula of Michigan did or soon would have the number of 60, 000 free inhabitants, required by the famous ordinance of 1787 to enable it to apply for admission as a State. Mr. Wing, the then delegate, a member of the whig party, which was the dominant party of the territory at that time, although its appointive offices were filled with democrats, was not entirely satisfactory to his own party, and his re-nomination was meeting with much opposition, but it was easily foreseen that he would secure it. All over the territory it was talked that the office should at that time above all other times be filled by one intimately acquainted with every part of the territory, and that there was but one man in it besides Gov. Cass, who had such acquaintance. This talk was duly communicated to Mr. Lyon, but it caused no other action on his part than to say he would be glad to receive the nomination if offered him, and even after nomination he kept at his work in the field, only doing such political work as came in his way without hindrance or interruption to his business; even the great feast given by him to the miners over on the Mississippi river, which it is said gave the whole six hundred votes of that sparsely settled region to him, regardless of party, was no exception. The returns from the election came in slowly, but when all in and counted, it was found to the very great surprise of Mr. Wing that Mr. Lyon had received a large majority of the votes cast. This had been brought about by the exertions of those' who had become personally acquainted with him in their, endeavors to find good locations, and with his business qualifications and urbanity of manners Mr. Wing, although feeling sure of his election, had not undervalued the sterling qualities of his opponent, and had worked hard by his agents and
friends in the older centers, such as Detroit, Monroe, Toledo, and Mackinac, to prevent any defection in the party, and to pick up such straggling votes as they could.
Michigan
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