John Ladue

John Ladue was born November, 1804 in Lansingburgh, New York, the son of Peter and Mary Tallman Ladue.[2] In 1827, he married Mary Angel.[2] The couple had four children who outlived their father: John T. E. A. Ladue, Charlotte M. Ladue, George N. Ladue, and Austin Y. Ladue.[2]

In the 1840s, John's brother Andrew moved to Detroit with his family and established a tannery.[3] John Ladue followed Andrew to Detroit in 1847, and began in the business of manufacturing leather and purchasing wool,[2] with a store on Michigan Avenue at Campus Martius Park.[4] He was popular among the business community, and in 1850 was elected mayor.[2] During his term as mayor, a fugitive slave was arrested and jailed in Detroit. The local populace mobilized to free the man, and Ladue called out federal troops to preserve the peace.[2] To head off potential conflict, Ladue solicited donations from leading Detroit citizens to purchase the slave, and then freed him.[5]

John Ladue died December 1, 1854.[2]