Alexander McFarland (more commonly "McFarlan") was a Michigan politician and a prominent lumberman and businessman in

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

.Chapter XIII: Roster of City Officials
The History of Genesee County, MI.
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Early life

McFarlan was born on 14 February 1812 in Montgomery County, New York to John and Jeanette McFarlan. Both of his parents emigrated from

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

in their youth. When McFarlan was one year old, his father died and he was raised by his mother. As a young man, he was trained in the tannery trade, shoe-making and for a brief stint, attended a seminary in Rochester, New York.

Business life

He was married to Margaret Ann Simpson in 1842 and in 1850, he purchased fifty percent of a saw mill in

forming the firm, "Hazelton & McFarlan". His saw mills burned down a total of three times. After the first fire, McFarlan bought out his partner and rebuilt. Each time he rebuilt, he built on a larger scale and was, in the end, a successful lumberman, producing 11 million feet of cut lumber per year. In Flint, the only mill that was more successful at the time, was the mill owned by Henry H. Crapo. Profits from his lumber business enabled him to buy up large tracts of pine forest land in Michigan. He also became an owner of large sections of the first ward in Flint. McFarlan's farm in Mount Morris, Michigan employed Charles W. Nash as a farm hand, paying $12 per month. While on the farm, Nash learned the carpentry trade from John Shelben and then started a hay pressing concern that lead him to meet his wife Jessie Halleck. Nash went on to find employment in the Flint Road Cart Company ultimately becoming president of

General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...

in 1915. McFarlan became one of the leading stockholders and a president of the Citizen's National Bank in Flint. He was succeeded as bank president by his son-in-law, Robert J. Whaley who served as president for over twenty-six years.

Political life

McFarland was elect for the 1st Ward, Alderman twice back to back beginning in 1861. He was elected as

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

of the City of Flint in 1875 serving a 1-year term.Index to Politicians: Mcduer to Mcfarlan -- McFarlan, Alexander Entry
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Death

McFarlan died at his home in Flint on 22 April 1881.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcfarland, Alexander American people of Scottish descent Mayors of Flint, Michigan 1812 births 1881 deaths