Background
Rich was born in Conneautville, Pennsylvania just nineteen days after John Tyler became United States. President upon the death of William Henry Harrison.
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Rich was born in Conneautville, Pennsylvania just nineteen days after John Tyler became United States. President upon the death of William Henry Harrison.
Removed to Michigan, 1848, locating at Elba. Educated in public schools.
Rich was a member and chairman of the board of supervisors of Lapeer County, 1869–1872. He was also a delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1873, 1875, and 1878. Rich served in the Michigan Senate from January 1, 1881, until March 21, 1881, when he resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 47th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Omar Doctorate. Conger, serving from April 5, 1881, to March 4, 1883.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the 48th Congress.
He later served as State Railroad Commissioner, 1887–1891, and a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1884 to elect James G. Blaine and 1892 to re-elect Benjamin Harrison as United States. President, both of whom lost to Democrat Grover Cleveland. Rich served as Governor of Michigan from 1893 to 1897.
During his four years in office, a railroad strike, as well as an iron mine strike occurred. After leaving office, he served as United States collector of customs at Detroit from February 16, 1898, to January 30, 1906.
He was elected State Treasurer of Michigan to fill a vacancy and served from January 23, 1908, to January 1, 1909.
He was then collector of customs at Portuguese Huron from December 11, 1908, to May 30, 1913. Rich died in Saint St. Petersburg, Florida, and is interred at Mount Hope Cemetery of Lapeer, Michigan.
He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1873–1881, and served as speaker of the house during the last two terms. Also, three members of the State Canvassing Board were fired for falsifying returns on a salary raise vote for state officeholders.
Married Lucretia M. Winship, March 12, 1863.