Robert R. Blacker
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Robert R. Blacker | |
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| Michigan Secretary of State | |
| In office December 24, 1891 – 1892 | |
| Governor | Edwin B. Winans |
| Preceded by | Daniel E. Soper |
| Succeeded by | John W. Jochim |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Manistee County district | |
| In office 1883–1886 | |
| Preceded by | Giles M. Wing |
| Succeeded by | William G. Baumgardner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 31, 1845 |
| Died | September 1931 (aged 85) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
Robert Roe Blacker (October 31, 1845 – September 1931) was a Canadian-born American politician and lumber baron.
Robert R. Blacker was born on October 31, 1845, in Brantford, Ontario in Canada. He moved to Buchanan, Michigan in Berrien County at age 19, in 1864. He lived there until 1866, when he moved to Manistee. There, he began working at lumber mills.[1] Blacker became a naturalized citizen in July 1874.[2]
Career
In 1875, Blacker formed a business partnership with R. G. Peters known as R. R. Blacker & Co., for the operation of a shingle mill. In 1879, he formed a partnership with E. T. Davies and Patrick Noud, known as Davies, Blacker & Co. The firm built and operated a saw mill and shingle plant. The firm lasted until 1887, when it was merged into the State Lumber Company, which Blacker served as the secretary and treasurer of.[3] Blacker was involved with a number of other enterprises, including the Manistee Water Company, the Eureka Lumber Company, and the Manistee Filer City and Eastlake Electric Railway Company. Blacker was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Manistee.[1] Blacker was involved in a number of philanthropic projects in Manistee.[3] By 1900, Blacker was a millionaire lumberman and salt manufacturer.[4]
Blacker was a Democrat.[3] In the spring 1880 election, Blacker was elected alderman for the ninth ward of Manistee. He served six terms, and served as the chairman of the finance committee, as well as president pro tempore of the council.[5] In 1882, Blacker was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent the Manistee County district. In 1884, he was re-elected. In 1888, Blacker was elected Manistee mayor, and served for four consecutive terms.[6]
On December 19, 1891, Michigan Secretary of State Daniel E. Soper resigned amid scandal.[7][8] On December 24, Blacker was appointed by Governor Edwin B. Winans to serve Soper's expired term.[1] During Blacker's term, he was named in the United States Supreme Court case McPherson v. Blacker, decided on October 17, 1892.[9] In the case, Michigan presidential elector William McPherson, along with other electors, filed suit against the state of Michigan in regard to their appointment method for electors. The case was the first Supreme Court case to consider whether certain methods of states' appointments of their electors were constitutional.[10]
In 1884, Blacker served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In 1892, he served as an alternate delegate to the convention.[3] In 1896, Blacker, in the election for delegate to the Democratic National Convention from the third district, served as the candidate in favor of the gold standard, as opposed to the silver standard. Blacker was elected by a viva voce vote over William F. Knight, under a suspension of the rules.[11]
