John Stewart Barry resided here from 1835 to 1849 and served as Governor of Michigan from 1843 to 1846 and again from 1850 to 1852. Born January 29, 1802, in Amherst, New Hampshire, he came to White Pigeon in 1831 and to Constantine in 1834, where he kept a general store and engaged in transportation business on the St. Joseph River. He served in the Territorial Legislature, was a member of the convention that prepared the constitution under which Michigan was admitted into the Union, was a distinguished member of the State Legislature, and was twice a presidential elector. During his administrations, general progress was made throughout the state: educational, canal, highway, and railway projects were begun and promoted; the University of Michigan was liberally assisted; Michigan State Normal College was established; the efficiency of common schools was improved; Michigan Central and Michigan Southern railroads were constructed; and a new State Constitution was adopted. As a delegate to the 1864 Democratic National Convention, Barry performed his last public service, and he continued his business at Constantine until his death on January 14, 1870.