Newberry, John S. (John Stoughton), 1826-1887

Student at the University of Michigan.

Detroit industrialist and Congressman.

The son of Elihu and Rhoda Phelps Newberry, John S. Newberry was born at Waterville, New York on November 18, 1826. He moved to Detroit in 1831 and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1845. Newberry worked on the Michigan Central Railroad for two years, and studied law in the office of Van Dyke and Enmons. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1853, and joined the firm of Towle, Hunt and Newberry. In 1863, with McMillan, Dean and Eaton, he built railway cars for the Army, and was appointed provost marshal for Michigan by President Lincoln. Newberry organized the Michigan Car Company. In 1879 he was elected to the U.S. Congress from the First District of Michigan. He served as director of D&C Steam Navigation Company, Vulcan Furnace Co. at Newberry, Michigan; Detroit National Bank; Detroit, Bay City and Alpena Railroad Company; D.M. Ferry and Co. and many others. He married Harriet N. Robinson of Buffalo, New York and they had one son, Harry R., who died in 1910. After she died, he married Helen Parmalce Handy, daughter of Truman P. Handy of Cleveland, Ohio, and they had three children: Truman H., John S., and Mrs. Henry B. Joy.