John Pridgeon Jr.
Mayor of Detroit
In office
1888–1889
Preceded byMarvin H. Chamberlain
Succeeded byHazen S. Pingree
Personal details
Born(1852-08-01)August 1, 1852
Detroit, Michigan
DiedMarch 16, 1929(1929-03-16) (aged 76)
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Spouses
Cora Edgar
​
​
(m. 1874; div. 1911)​
    Blanche Pridgeon Cate
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1915)​
    Children2
    Signature

    John Pridgeon Jr. (August 1, 1852 – March 16, 1929) was the head of a marine transport company and mayor of Detroit, Michigan.

    Biography

    Pridgeon was born in Detroit on August 1, 1852, the son of Captain John and Emma Nicholson Pridgeon.[1] Pridgeon was educated in the Detroit Public Schools and the Detroit Business University.[2]

    In 1871, he joined as a clerk his father's business of buying, selling, and operating sailing ships and tugs;[1] the family also owned and operated the Detroit & Windsor Ferry.[3]

    In 1874, Pridgeon married Cora Edgar; the couple had two sons, neither of whom outlived their parents.[1] In 1911, Cora sued for and was granted a divorce.[4] In 1915, Pridgeon married a second time to Mrs. Blanche Pridgeon Cate, the widow of a classmate of Woodrow Wilson and a distant relative.[5]

    In 1876 he became an agent of the Chicago and Grand Trunk line of steamers, stationed at Port Huron, Michigan; in 1879 the line was dismantled and he rejoined his father's business.[1]

    Pridgeon was a member of the first Park Commission, serving from 1879 to 1883.[2] He was elected to the city council as a Democrat.[3] in 1885, and in 1887 was elected mayor of Detroit, serving one term from 1888 to 1889.[1] He later served as a member of the Police Commission from 1891- 1892.[2]

    After his stint as mayor, Pridgeon diversified his business interests, and in the years 1890 to 1900 served variously as president of the State Transportation Company, president of the Pridgeon Transportation Company, vice-president of the White Star Line, vice-president of the Red Star Line, and vice-president of the River Savings Bank.[2]

    John Pridgeon Jr. died in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 16, 1929.[6][7]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 Farmer, Silas (1889), The History Of Detroit And Michigan, p. 1050
    2. 1 2 3 4 Historical And Biographical, Comprising A Synopsis Of General History Of The State, And Biographical Sketches Of Men, Western Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900, pp. 179–180
    3. 1 2 Compendium of History and Biography of the City of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan, Henry Taylor & Co, 1908, p. 544
    4. ↑ "Ex-Mayor's Wife Secures Divorce". Detroit Free Press. January 21, 1911.
    5. ↑ "Pridgeon-Cate Wedding" (PDF). The New York Times. June 4, 1915. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
    6. ↑ "Mayors of U.S. Cities A - L". WorldStatesmen.org. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
    7. ↑ "John Pridgeon Dies in East". Detroit Free Press. March 17, 1929. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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