James Newman, of Portland, was born in Gorham, New York, January 7, 1812, and died in Portland, Michigan, April 2, 1877.
His parents were Elisha and Mary "Polly" Newman. The former died in 1849; the latter when James was but one year old. On his mother's death, he was taken to live with his grandparents, at Hopewell, New York.
Upon reaching manhood, he became impressed with the bright prospects of the West, which led so many to desert their homes in the East, and went to Michigan in June, 1833. He reached the mouth of the Looking-glass River on the 16th of that month, where he located a large tract of land. May 24, 1836, he settled, with his family, in Portland. The name Newman has been more intimately connected with the origin and progress of the city of Portland than perhaps any other. Mr. Newman had his full share of the toils and privations of those early days, when no roads existed in that part of Michigan, and the pioneers had literally to cut their way for many miles through the wilderness. The Indians still held the country, but were peaceably disposed and traded with new-comers. On reaching Portland, Mr. Newman's first work, after obtaining shelter for his family, was the erection, in connection with his brother, of a saw-mill on Looking-glass River. He also started a small run of stone for grinding. This was the first saw and grist mill on the river, and the only one in Portland. Mr. Newman located and owned the greater part of the land on the east side of Grand River, now occupied by the village of Portland, where "Newman's Addition" is still a prominent landmark. From this small beginning, his business constantly increased, developing with the growth of the village. He was also, at various times, both alone and in connection with others, engaged in other kinds of business; principally in carrying on flour and woolen mills, buying and selling property, and farming. He held, at different times, the positions of Treasurer and Commissioner of Highways, and was frequently solicited to become a candidate for other public "offices; but, having no ambition in that direction, he invariably declined. In the growth and improvement of the village, he always had a strong interest; and, to the railroad enterprises in that connection, he was a firm friend, freely using his money and influence. He was deeply interested in educational matters, and, for a number of years, served as a school officer. His benevolence was well known in the community; no deserving applicant for flour at his mill being turned away because he was not able to pay. Few men were more respected; and, at his death, the press of Portland gave ample expression to the public sorrow. Mr. Newman was connected with the Universalist Church. In politics, he was a Republican, and always voted consistently with the principles of that party. May 1, 1834, he married, at Hopewell, New York, Rebecca Hixon, a native of Bridgewater. She died March 25, 1862, leaving a family of five children,— three sons and two daughters.
In 1865 Mr. Newman married Caroline, widow of Rev. Miles Reid, who survives him. They had one son. Mr. Newman's flour-mill is now carried on by his eldest son, James, in partnership with his brother-in-law, N. B. Rice, under the firm name of Newman & Rice; the latter owning a one-third interest. It is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country.
Source: American Biographical History, published 1878; page 86. Post note: also the father of Isaac N. Newman who married Rosa Lockwood.
His parents were Elisha and Mary "Polly" Newman. The former died in 1849; the latter when James was but one year old. On his mother's death, he was taken to live with his grandparents, at Hopewell, New York.
Upon reaching manhood, he became impressed with the bright prospects of the West, which led so many to desert their homes in the East, and went to Michigan in June, 1833. He reached the mouth of the Looking-glass River on the 16th of that month, where he located a large tract of land. May 24, 1836, he settled, with his family, in Portland. The name Newman has been more intimately connected with the origin and progress of the city of Portland than perhaps any other. Mr. Newman had his full share of the toils and privations of those early days, when no roads existed in that part of Michigan, and the pioneers had literally to cut their way for many miles through the wilderness. The Indians still held the country, but were peaceably disposed and traded with new-comers. On reaching Portland, Mr. Newman's first work, after obtaining shelter for his family, was the erection, in connection with his brother, of a saw-mill on Looking-glass River. He also started a small run of stone for grinding. This was the first saw and grist mill on the river, and the only one in Portland. Mr. Newman located and owned the greater part of the land on the east side of Grand River, now occupied by the village of Portland, where "Newman's Addition" is still a prominent landmark. From this small beginning, his business constantly increased, developing with the growth of the village. He was also, at various times, both alone and in connection with others, engaged in other kinds of business; principally in carrying on flour and woolen mills, buying and selling property, and farming. He held, at different times, the positions of Treasurer and Commissioner of Highways, and was frequently solicited to become a candidate for other public "offices; but, having no ambition in that direction, he invariably declined. In the growth and improvement of the village, he always had a strong interest; and, to the railroad enterprises in that connection, he was a firm friend, freely using his money and influence. He was deeply interested in educational matters, and, for a number of years, served as a school officer. His benevolence was well known in the community; no deserving applicant for flour at his mill being turned away because he was not able to pay. Few men were more respected; and, at his death, the press of Portland gave ample expression to the public sorrow. Mr. Newman was connected with the Universalist Church. In politics, he was a Republican, and always voted consistently with the principles of that party. May 1, 1834, he married, at Hopewell, New York, Rebecca Hixon, a native of Bridgewater. She died March 25, 1862, leaving a family of five children,— three sons and two daughters.
In 1865 Mr. Newman married Caroline, widow of Rev. Miles Reid, who survives him. They had one son. Mr. Newman's flour-mill is now carried on by his eldest son, James, in partnership with his brother-in-law, N. B. Rice, under the firm name of Newman & Rice; the latter owning a one-third interest. It is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country.
Source: American Biographical History, published 1878; page 86. Post note: also the father of Isaac N. Newman who married Rosa Lockwood.
James Newman, of Portland, was born in Gorham, New York, January 7, 1812, and died in Portland, Michigan, April 2, 1877.
His parents were Elisha and Mary "Polly" Newman. The former died in 1849; the latter when James was but one year old. On his mother's death, he was taken to live with his grandparents, at Hopewell, New York.
Upon reaching manhood, he became impressed with the bright prospects of the West, which led so many to desert their homes in the East, and went to Michigan in June, 1833. He reached the mouth of the Looking-glass River on the 16th of that month, where he located a large tract of land. May 24, 1836, he settled, with his family, in Portland. The name Newman has been more intimately connected with the origin and progress of the city of Portland than perhaps any other. Mr. Newman had his full share of the toils and privations of those early days, when no roads existed in that part of Michigan, and the pioneers had literally to cut their way for many miles through the wilderness. The Indians still held the country, but were peaceably disposed and traded with new-comers. On reaching Portland, Mr. Newman's first work, after obtaining shelter for his family, was the erection, in connection with his brother, of a saw-mill on Looking-glass River. He also started a small run of stone for grinding. This was the first saw and grist mill on the river, and the only one in Portland. Mr. Newman located and owned the greater part of the land on the east side of Grand River, now occupied by the village of Portland, where "Newman's Addition" is still a prominent landmark. From this small beginning, his business constantly increased, developing with the growth of the village. He was also, at various times, both alone and in connection with others, engaged in other kinds of business; principally in carrying on flour and woolen mills, buying and selling property, and farming. He held, at different times, the positions of Treasurer and Commissioner of Highways, and was frequently solicited to become a candidate for other public "offices; but, having no ambition in that direction, he invariably declined. In the growth and improvement of the village, he always had a strong interest; and, to the railroad enterprises in that connection, he was a firm friend, freely using his money and influence. He was deeply interested in educational matters, and, for a number of years, served as a school officer. His benevolence was well known in the community; no deserving applicant for flour at his mill being turned away because he was not able to pay. Few men were more respected; and, at his death, the press of Portland gave ample expression to the public sorrow. Mr. Newman was connected with the Universalist Church. In politics, he was a Republican, and always voted consistently with the principles of that party. May 1, 1834, he married, at Hopewell, New York, Rebecca Hixon, a native of Bridgewater. She died March 25, 1862, leaving a family of five children,— three sons and two daughters.
In 1865 Mr. Newman married Caroline, widow of Rev. Miles Reid, who survives him. They had one son. Mr. Newman's flour-mill is now carried on by his eldest son, James, in partnership with his brother-in-law, N. B. Rice, under the firm name of Newman & Rice; the latter owning a one-third interest. It is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country.
Source: American Biographical History, published 1878; page 86. Post note: also the father of Isaac N. Newman who married Rosa Lockwood.
His parents were Elisha and Mary "Polly" Newman. The former died in 1849; the latter when James was but one year old. On his mother's death, he was taken to live with his grandparents, at Hopewell, New York.
Upon reaching manhood, he became impressed with the bright prospects of the West, which led so many to desert their homes in the East, and went to Michigan in June, 1833. He reached the mouth of the Looking-glass River on the 16th of that month, where he located a large tract of land. May 24, 1836, he settled, with his family, in Portland. The name Newman has been more intimately connected with the origin and progress of the city of Portland than perhaps any other. Mr. Newman had his full share of the toils and privations of those early days, when no roads existed in that part of Michigan, and the pioneers had literally to cut their way for many miles through the wilderness. The Indians still held the country, but were peaceably disposed and traded with new-comers. On reaching Portland, Mr. Newman's first work, after obtaining shelter for his family, was the erection, in connection with his brother, of a saw-mill on Looking-glass River. He also started a small run of stone for grinding. This was the first saw and grist mill on the river, and the only one in Portland. Mr. Newman located and owned the greater part of the land on the east side of Grand River, now occupied by the village of Portland, where "Newman's Addition" is still a prominent landmark. From this small beginning, his business constantly increased, developing with the growth of the village. He was also, at various times, both alone and in connection with others, engaged in other kinds of business; principally in carrying on flour and woolen mills, buying and selling property, and farming. He held, at different times, the positions of Treasurer and Commissioner of Highways, and was frequently solicited to become a candidate for other public "offices; but, having no ambition in that direction, he invariably declined. In the growth and improvement of the village, he always had a strong interest; and, to the railroad enterprises in that connection, he was a firm friend, freely using his money and influence. He was deeply interested in educational matters, and, for a number of years, served as a school officer. His benevolence was well known in the community; no deserving applicant for flour at his mill being turned away because he was not able to pay. Few men were more respected; and, at his death, the press of Portland gave ample expression to the public sorrow. Mr. Newman was connected with the Universalist Church. In politics, he was a Republican, and always voted consistently with the principles of that party. May 1, 1834, he married, at Hopewell, New York, Rebecca Hixon, a native of Bridgewater. She died March 25, 1862, leaving a family of five children,— three sons and two daughters.
In 1865 Mr. Newman married Caroline, widow of Rev. Miles Reid, who survives him. They had one son. Mr. Newman's flour-mill is now carried on by his eldest son, James, in partnership with his brother-in-law, N. B. Rice, under the firm name of Newman & Rice; the latter owning a one-third interest. It is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country.
Source: American Biographical History, published 1878; page 86. Post note: also the father of Isaac N. Newman who married Rosa Lockwood.
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