Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
To say of him that he arose from comparative obscurity to rank among the most successful engineers and contractors of the country, is a statement that seems trite to those familiar with his life.
Beginning at the bottom of the ladder, he steadily rose step by step until he occupied a position of trust and prominence in his chosen profession, reached by few.
A native of England, James Appleyard was born in Yorkshire, February 24, 1834. At the age of seventeen he accompanied his parents, George Thomas and Ann Appleyard, on their emigration to America. Their first location in this country was at Rochester, N. Y., where the son James followed his business of master builder, which he had begun in England.
In 1856 he became identified with N. Osborn & Co. as superintendent of construction of the Milwaukee and Chicago post offices. Becoming a member of the firm in 1860, he took charge in the few years following of building the postoffice and custom house at Baltimore, the city hall in Detroit, and the State capitol at Lansing. At the completion of the capitol, the firm of Osborn & Co. was dissolved.
Besides many smaller enterprises, he supreintended the construction of the Hoyt library at Saginaw, the library of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the union depot at Detroit.
Mr. Appleyard was married in 1856 to Miss Johanna Lysaght of Canadiagua, N. Y., who became the mother of three childern: Willam P. Appleyard of Chicago, George T. Appleyard of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Elizabeth, who died at the age of fifteen. Mrs. Appleyard died at Lansing in 1873.
Mr. Appleyard's second wife was Miss Augusta Sanborn, of Appleton, Wis., who bore him three children: Johanna, Mrs. Edwin Malloy of Lansing, Mich; Frances, who died in infancy, and Louis L. Appleyard of Schenectady, N. Y.
The subject of this sketch began life for himself when but a very young man, and throughout his business career he was looked upon as a man of the highest integrity. He stood for all that was far to his fellowmen, and faithfully executed every trust reposed in him.
He was an example of the highest skill in his profession, combined with the greatest degree of business integrity, capacity and strength of character. He gave generously to the public good, was faithful in friendship, devoted to his family, and stood high as a type of chivalrous American manhood.
After an illness of three years, his death occurred on the 29th day of June, 1896, and his remains were interred in St. Mary's cemetery at Lansing. A man of genuine worth, he was honored and respected by all who knew him.
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Biographies Michigan Biographies Project |
 Sondra Higbee
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