# John B. Macy

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For the U.S. civil servant (1917–1986), see [John Macy](/source/John_Macy).

**John B. Macy** (March 25, 1799 – September 24, 1856) was a [U.S. Representative](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin).

Macy was born in [Nantucket, Massachusetts](/source/Nantucket,_Massachusetts), where he received a liberal education. He moved to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in 1826 and later in that year to [Buffalo, New York](/source/Buffalo,_New_York). He resided in [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati,_Ohio) from 1842 to 1845. Macy was one of the founders of [Toledo, Ohio](/source/Toledo,_Ohio), and one of the proprietors of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad (the state line to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). This line was the beginning of the [Chicago and North Western Railway](/source/Chicago_and_North_Western_Railway). Macy moved to [Fond du Lac](/source/Fond_du_Lac,_Wisconsin) in the [Wisconsin Territory](/source/Wisconsin_Territory), in 1845 and engaged in the real estate business, acquiring land from [Philip Hone](/source/Philip_Hone), the mayor of New York City. Several street names in Fond du Lac, such as *Macy Street*, are named for Macy and members of his family.[2] He moved with his family to the town of [Empire, Wisconsin](/source/Empire,_Wisconsin), near Lake de Neveu, in 1850. Macy's home, built near what became [Highway 45](/source/U.S._Route_45_in_Wisconsin), still stands. Its original outbuildings include a hexagonal library.[3]

Macy was elected as a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) to represent [Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district](/source/Wisconsin's_3rd_congressional_district) at the [33rd United States Congress](/source/33rd_United_States_Congress) (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855), but was unsuccessful for re-election in 1854 to the [34th Congress](/source/34th_Congress). Following his failure to be re-elected, he resumed his former business pursuits.

## Death

Macy lost his life in the burning of the [steamer](/source/Steamboat) *[Niagara](/source/Niagara_(palace_steamer))*, near [Port Washington, Wisconsin](/source/Port_Washington,_Wisconsin) on [Lake Michigan](/source/Lake_Michigan) on September 24, 1856. The *Niagara* was a sidewheel passenger steamer, one of the luxury vessels known as 'palace steamers', which sailed the Great Lakes in the years from 1844 to 1857. On September 23, 1856, the *Niagara* left [Sheboygan, Wisconsin](/source/Sheboygan,_Wisconsin), for Port Washington. Fire broke out on board at around 4pm, causing the steam engines and the ship's giant paddlewheels to stop. The steamer, which was 4–5 miles offshore, quickly became engulfed in flames and smoke, and the passengers panicked while trying to board the lifeboats. Many jumped overboard into the water, which was reported to be too cold for anyone to survive in it.[4] Despite rescue efforts, over 60 people died in what was one of Wisconsin's deadliest transportation disasters. The wreck of the *Niagara* lies in 55 feet of water one mile off [Belgium, Wisconsin](/source/Belgium,_Wisconsin). Macy was last seen on board exclaiming "We're lost! Oh God! We're lost!"[5] His body was never recovered.

## References

1. Macy, Silvanus J. (1868). [*Genealogy of the Macy Family from 1635-1868*](https://archive.org/details/genealogymacyfa00macygoog). Albany: Joel Munsell. p. [229](https://archive.org/details/genealogymacyfa00macygoog/page/n285)

1. ["The State: The history of Fond du Lac County, as told by its place-names: M"](http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=div&did=WI.FONDHISTORY.I0017&isize=text). *Digicoll.library.wisc.edu*. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

1. ["Problem while searching in The State"](http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=turn&entity=WI.FondHistory.p0062&isize=text). *Digicoll.library.wisc.edu*. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

1. "Dreadful Lake Disaster! 100 Lives Lost!". *The Daily Ohio Statesman*. September 26, 1856. p. 3.

1. "The Burning of the Streamer Niagara -- Further Particulars.". *The Sun (Baltimore, MD)*. September 30, 1856. p. 1.

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