Oliver Moulton Hyde

Oliver Moulton Hyde
Mayor of Detroit
In office 1854–1854
Preceded by	John H. Harmon
Succeeded by	Henry Ledyard
Mayor of Detroit
In office 1826–1826
Preceded by	Henry Ledyard
Succeeded by	John Patton
Personal details
Born	March 10, 1804 Sudbury, Vermont
Died	June 28, 1870 Detroit, Michigan
Spouse(s)	Julia Ann Sprague

Oliver Moulton Hyde (March 10, 1804 – June 28, 1870) was a Detroit businessman, manufacturer, and politician who was elected mayor of Detroit three times, in 1854, 1856, and 1857.

Biography

Oliver Moulton Hyde was born in Sudbury, Vermont on March 10, 1804, the son of Pitt William Hyde.^[1] At age 23, Hyde married Julia Ann Sprague, and opened a dry goods store in Castleton, Vermont. In 1834, he sold the store and moved to Mount Hope, New York to manage two blast furnaces.^[1]

In 1838, Hyde moved to Detroit and opened a hardware store on Woodward Avenue.^[1] He began a business manufacturing counter scales at the same location.^[2] Hyde branched out in business, opening a foundry and machine shop, and began manufacturing marine engines and other steamboat hardware.^[2] In 1852, he began a dry dock business,^[1] and also built a sawmill near Saginaw, Michigan.

He had a reputation for extensive charity work, and gave or privately loaned a substantial portion of his fortune.^[1]

Hyde joined the Whig Party and ran for multiple elected offices; later in life he joined the Republican Party.^[1] Hyde was elected to the city council numerous times, and served as mayor of Detroit in 1854, 1856, and 1857. He was also appointed Collector for the Port of Detroit under presidents Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore.^[1]

In 1863, Hyde suffered a dehibilitating stroke, after which he was almost completely confined to his house. A second stroke followed four years later. Nevertheless, Hyde actively supported recruiting and public service during the Civil War.^[1]

Oliver Moulton Hyde died on June 28, 1870.^[1] He had three living children: Henry S. Hyde, Hattie S. Hyde, and Louis C. Hyde.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Silas Farmer (1889), THE HISTORY OF DETROIT AND MICHIGAN, p. 1040-1041, http://books.google.com/books?id=Yl06VbZ-RfwC&pg=1040#v=onepage&q&f=false 
2. ^ ^{a b} Friend Palmer (1906), Early days in Detroit, Hunt & June, pp. 821 - 824, http://books.google.com/books?id=Gkt5AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA821#v=onepage&q&f=false 

Further reading

• Clarence Monroe Burton (1929), The Hyde house and the Garrick theatre on Griswold street, Detroit, http://books.google.com/books?id=-75YAAAAMAAJ 

Political offices
Preceded by John H. Harmon	Mayor of Detroit 1854	Succeeded by Henry Ledyard
Preceded by Henry Ledyard	Mayor of Detroit 1856-1857	Succeeded by John Patton

Persondata
Name	Hyde, Oliver Moulton
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 10, 1804
Place of birth	Sudbury, Vermont
Date of death	June 28, 1870
Place of death	Detroit, Michigan