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Podcast: Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past
Episode: The Story of Ezra Convis: First Speaker of the House in Michigan & The Founder of Verona
Description: This is the story of Ezra Convis who was also known in his time as General Ezra Convis. Â He was an early pioneer industrialist to Calhoun County who founded the Village of Verona and also was a co-founder of the Village of Augusta in Kalamazoo County. Â He at one point was a partial owner in downtown Battle Creek. Â He became elected to the Legislature when Michigan was vying for Statehood, and was elected as Speaker of the House. Â He won re-election the year Michigan became a state, and died in a sled accident near Detroit on the way to a we...