Many famous people traveled through Shiawassee County. Some were running for political office, others like John Phillip Sousa brought his band, but when Carrie Nation rolled into Owosso...watch out!
Here she is with her carriage on July 17, 1909. She spent time in the Topeka, Kansas jail cell and finally wrote the following letter to the Judge.
"I want you to quit fooling and let me out of jail. If you cause me to miss my engagements, I won't feel like a ministering angel unto you." She added, "It is time for you to recover yourself before the devil, your master, makes a clean sweep with you into hell."
Wild Bill Cody and Annie Oakley stormed into Owosso.
This ad was from the Owosso Daily
American....July 24, 1896
Many movie stars and theatrical types have performed in Shiawassee County including General Tom Thumb in April of 1868, P.T. Barnum and in 1870, Susan B. Anthony appeared at Gould's Hall in Owosso. In 1890, Detroit actress, Jessie Bonstelle appeared at the Salisbury Opera House in Owosso. Tim Doolittle in the early 1930's.
In 1942, James Cagney, presented a flag to the employees of the Bendix Co. for 100 percent purchase of 'War Bonds' and appeared in a parade on Main St. below.
Other famous stars include Jerry Lewis, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Tex Ritter appeared at the Shiawassee County Fair in Corunna in the late 1960s, Chubby Checker appeared at Owosso Jr. High's Auditorium, Alice Copper and many more.
Several U. S. Presidents and/or candidates also passed through Shiawassee County and drew large crowds including Teddy Roosevelt, on the Michigan Central Railroad. Harry Truman, Thomas E. Dewey, John Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford.
On Oct. 27, 1964, Ronald Reagan, co-chair for the California's governor campaign, gave an inspirational national TV speech called "A Time for Choosing". The next day the first 'Reagan for President' organization was created Bill Ross and Bob Smith of Owosso. In the 1968 campaign, the bumper sticker below is an example of the local Owosso committee's work. Reagan even met with them in Owosso during the campaign, but was not interested in running for that office, however by the time of the Republican Convention, he was nominated but lost to Richard Nixon.
The above letter head proclaims that this Club was founded in 1964. The button was from the 1980 election.
More recently, George Bush and Bill Clinton campaigned in Shiawassee County and traveled by train.
Owosso even claims fame as having supplied two presidents with coffins, William McKinley, after he was assassinated in 1901, and Benjamin Harrison died the same year. Owosso Casket Co. was known in the 1920's as the world's largest casket maker.