Bio of Jon. Henry A. Shaw, Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, Michigan

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Pioneer Record

Vol. 3   1881

Bio of Jon. Henry A. Shaw


Hon. Henry A. Shaw, now a leading lawyer in Eaton County, resides at the village of 
Eaton Rapids.  He was born June 21st, 1818, in the town of Benson, county of Rutland, 
Vermont.  His ancestors were pioneers in the town before named.  His grandfather, John 
Shaw, emigrated from Berkshire, Mass., when his father, Cheeney Shaw, was but two 
years of age.  His grandfather settled in a valley in the southwest part of the town, upon a 
farm, nine miles from Whitehall, and one and a half miles from Lake Champlain.  Upon 
this farm Henry A. Shaw was inducted into the mysteries of farming.  At the age of 
sixteen his parents removed to Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio.  Here he received an 
academic education, and completed his law studies in the office of Francis W. Tappan, 
Esq.  Prior to his admission to the bar, he taught school in  Charleston and Edenburg a 
very common thing with the educated young men of that day.  In the fall of 1842, in 
consequence of impaired health, he was advised by his physician to travel; and true to his 
instinct and enterprise, he purchased a load of miscellaneous goods and 850 sheep, which 
he sold out in the following winter in and about Eaton Rapids.  At this place, Mr. Shaw
purchased a farm and other property, and Eaton Rapids has been his home ever since, 
though he has occasionally for short periods resided in other places.  The enterprise and 
perseverance of Mr. Shaw have contributed largely to the development of the varied 
resources of Eaton County, and its intelligent citizens made an early discovery of his 
eminent abilities.  In 1856 he was elected a member of the legislature, and rose at once to 
prominence.  At this session he introduced the bill creating an independent supreme 
court, a bill making the judge of probate a salaried officer, a bill for the relief of religions 
societies, and a bill authorizing the laying-out of highways under the constitution of 
1851, which had not been provided for.  At this, and the special session of the legislature 
in 1853, Mr. Shaw was very properly chairman of the judiciary committee.  In 1859 he 
was again returned to the house by a larger vote than had even been before accorded to 
any candidate for office in the third district.  He was elected speaker, and discharged his 
duties with great acceptability.  Subsequently he served his county as judge of probate
for eight years, during which time he introduced some useful and practical reforms in the 
conduct of the probate court.  In 1869 he was again elected to the legislature, and was 
chairman of the judiciary committee.  His experience as a legislator and lawyer qualified 
him in a remarkable degree for uncommon usefulness, and which was fully realized.  
During the civil war he served with distinction in the Second Michigan Cavalry.  He had 
held many municipal offices, and was instrumental in the inception and construction of 
the two railroads passing through Eaton rapids, which afford such ample means of 
shipment and communication.  Every enterprise which promised substantial benefit to 
Eaton county has always received his hearty support, and so universal is the opinion of 
the people of the county, that Mr. Shaw’s identification with any project is an augury of 
its success. With his large and responsible law practice, he still found time to carry on his 
farm and devote much time to his students.  He refers with commendable pride to some 
very distinguished lawyers in this and other States who were students of his, and whose 
standing at the bar attest the thoroughness of their instruction, to wit: Hon. O. M. Barnes,, 
I. M . Crane, amd M. V. Montgomery, of this state, O. F. Price of Illinois, A. Bronson of 
California, H. H. Willard of Ohio, and many others.  Mr. Shaw is wildly and favorably 
known throughout the State, and his reputation was never greater than at the present time.  
On the 25th of January, 1879, his wife died of disease of the heart.