Albert M. Todd

Albert May Todd (* June 3, 1850 in Nottawa, St. Joseph County, Michigan; † 6 October 1931 in Kalamazoo, Michigan ) was an American politician. Between 1897 and 1899 he represented the state of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Albert Todd first attended the local district school and then the Sturgis High School. He then studied at Northwestern University in Evanston (Illinois ), the professional chemistry. On a trip to Europe he became acquainted with various mint species, of which he brought some home with me. In 1869 he founded the A.M. Todd Company, which dealt with the production of botanical oils. In 1891 he moved the company to Kalamazoo. Todd's company was one of the leading companies in this industry worldwide. The company continues to this day of Todd's descendants. Also on his trip to Europe was fascinated Albert Todd of rare books and art. This later led to the establishment of an art museum and a library with rare books, which included at the time of his death, more than 11,000 volumes.

Albert Todd was also politically active. The early 1890s, he was a supporter of the Prohibition movement in Michigan. As a candidate of the Prohibition Party, he applied unsuccessfully in 1894 for the office of the governor of Michigan: With 4.5 percent of the vote, he finished in fourth place behind the victorious incumbent John Tyler Rich of the Republican Party, the Democrats Spencer O. Fisher and Alva W. Nichols of the People's Party. He then became a member of the Democratic Party. In the congressional elections of 1896 he was in the third electoral district of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he became the successor of the Republican Alfred Milnes on March 4, 1897. Since he lost to Washington Gardner in the elections of 1898, he was able to complete only one term in Congress until March 3, 1899. This was marked by the events of the Spanish - American War.

After his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives Todd moved back out of politics. In the following years he devoted himself to his company, its museum and its library. Albert Todd died on 6 October 1931 in Kalamazoo. He was married to Augusta Allman, with whom he had five children. Two of his sons were mayors and city councils of Kalamazoo. His grandson, Paul took 1965-1967 also the third district of Michigan in Congress.