The home of Alexander Maitland is pictured. It was torn down in the early 1950s. (Photo courtesy of the Negaunee Historical Society)

By VIRGINIA

PAULSON

Negaunee Historical

Society

NEGAUNEE — Alexander Maitland was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland, on June 20, 1844 to James and Barbara (Kerr) Maitland.

His father was engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business until 1856, when he moved his family to America. After living in Hamilton,Ontario,Canada, for a few years the family moved to Hastings County in the same province. He purchased a farm and continued to live there until his death.

Alexander, the youngest child of James and Barbara, received his early education in his native land and was about eleven years of age when the family moved to Canada.

At the age of fourteen, he began to work on the family farm and in the meantime completed his school studies during the hours that he did not work on the farm.

Through self discipline he made satisfactory gains and he continued studying until he was about eighteen years old. In the winter of 1862 he secured employment in a carriage factory at Galt, Ontario, where he remained for about ten months.

In July, 1864, he came to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and settled in Negaunee. He was employed as a rodman for the Mineral branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Two months later he assumed the position of explorer for the Iron Cliffs Mining Company, where he was employed until 1868, when the corporation gave him the position of surveyor and engineer which he held for nine years.

In 1879 he was appointed assistant general manager and in July 1881 he became general manager. for ten years. He was the general manager of the Cambria and Lillie Mining Company, an office he held until 1906.

Maitland served as president of the Black River Mining Company on the Gogebic Range and also of the North Lake Mineral and Land Company on the north shore of Lake Superior. He served as president of the First National Bank of Negaunee at the beginning of the bank’s organization in 1887 and a stockholder in the Miner’s Bank of Ishpeming and the First National Bank of Escanaba, and the State Bank of Negaunee, of which he was one of the organizers.

Mr. Maitland had a strong influence in the development of the mining industry. In 1904 he became the owner to the Scott Iron Mine and then leased the property to the Volunteer Ore Company.

He also had mining interests in South Dakota and Minnesota.

Alexander Maitland had an interest in public affairs. He served three terms as mayor of Negaunee, Marquette County surveyor for two terms. In 1896, he served in the state senate. In 1902 he was elected as the lieutenant governor of Michigan during the administrations of Governors Bliss and Warner.

In 1874, Mr. Maitland was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Sterling. They had five children. Alexander F, Katherine, Leslie M, Harvey K, and Rena. The Maitland home was located on the corner of Main Street and Healy Avenue. And also served as a funeral home at one time.

It was torn down in the early 1950s.The Maitland’s have a short street that bears their name. It runs between Lincoln and Co. Road 480. The mantle from the Matland home is displayed at the museum.