|
NAVIGATION
Michigan
Histories
Clinton County
Biographies
Online Biographies
Illinois
Histories
Also see [Railway Officials in America 1906]
|
Among the honorable names in the county of Clinton that recall the qualities of energy and force of character
as the chief elements in a successful career, no finer example is discovered than that presented in the life of
John H. Fedewa. With two hundred and fifty dollars given him in early life, a mere adjunct to the capital which
his own industry and ambition supplied, he has at the age of thirtyone years not only acquired a thorough legal
education but been the recipient of many offices of trust, and is now filling for the second term the office of
prosecuting attorney for the county.
His father, Morris Fedewa, was born in Germany, in 1812, the birth of his mother, also a native of Germany, having
occurred the year following. They emigrated to the hospitable shores of America during the year 1842, and at once
embarked in agricultural pursuits in the township of Dallas, Clinton Co. Here their son was born May 8, 1849, having
been the eighth in a family of twelve children.
Mr. and Mrs. Fedewa experienced all the hardships of the early settler, the former having borne his grist many
miles to Lyons, to avail himself of the nearest mill. Until the age of eighteen years John H. led the accustomed
life of the farmer’s son, having labored in summer and studied in winter. He latcr enjoyed for two years the advantages
of the St. Johns High School, after which he taught for a brief period. In 1870 he entered the law school at the
University of Michigan, from which he graduated May 27, 1872. He then began the practice of his profession in Westphalia,
and in 1873 was elected supervisor of the township. He was re elected the following year, and soon after honored
with the office of prosecuting attorney of the county, which occasioned his removal to St. Johns, where he remained
until 1877. He returned again to his former residence, and was soon recalled to the office of supervisor of the
township, which he filled for two successive terms. The ability with which he discharged the onerous duties of
prosecuting attorney during a previous term insured his re election in 1878, and his removal again to St. Johns
as a result. Mr. Fedewa was on the 27th of November, 1876, married to Miss Lizzie Petsch, of Fowler, Clinton Co.,
Mich. Their home is graced by the presence of one little daughter, named Pauline May.
FROM:
History of Shiawassee and Clinton Counties, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of Their Men and Pioneers.
D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia 1880
Press of J. B. Lippincoff & Co., Philadelphia.
|
|