John McNaughton, the efficient Sheriff of Chippewa county and one of the highly respected citizens of the Upper Peninsula, is a son of Captain W.W. McNaughton, an esteemed towns man and pioneer of the Soo.” The son was born in Buffalo, New York, October 5, 1852, and the days of his childhood were largely passed in Houghton county. At the early age of thirteen he went aboard a vessel as cook at Portage Lake. To become a sailor was a matter of second nature with him, for his father had spent his entire life as a voyager. John was very faithful to his duty, and hia steadfastness and close application to his work won him constant promotion until he too had risen to the rank of captain. He also possesses pilot’s papers for St. Mary’s river, on which he was an engineer before becoming pilot. His last connection with navigation as a boatman was with the Louis P. Trempe Tug Company.

In 5872 Mr. McNaughton entered the service of the United States Government as cement expert, was later engineer on the locks and subsequently was made a foreman of two watches, thus remaining until 1887. In the latter year he left the Upper Peninsula, going to Muncie, Indiana, where he carried on business as a dealer in furniture and house-furnishing goods for two years. In 1888, however, he returned to Sault de Ste. Marie and was appointed by United States Marshal James R. Clark, as Deputy. While acting in that capacity, he detected and captured two Chinamen, who had smuggled themselves in contrary to the provisions of the Chinese exclusion act, and was deputized to deliver the captives to the custom officers of San Francisco, California, for deportation.

His next business was as time-keeper and buyer for the firm of Hughes Brothers & Bangs, with whom he continued until January 1, 1895, when he was installed as Sheriff of Chippewa county. He is the first Republican ‘Sheriff that has served in this county for ten years, and his personal popularity is shown by the fact that he defeated his Democratic opponent by a majority of 800, when the usual Democratic majority was from 150 to 300. Mr. McNaughton was defeated for Alderman in the First ward by Mr. Short, whom he defeated for Sheriff. Mr. McNaughton has adopted and inaugurated a policy in the regulation of saloons in Chippewa county that seems to meet with the approval of all the citizens. The people repose the utmost confidence in him, for his long residence in their midst has made him widely known, while his upright life has gained their regard.

In Mackinac, Michigan, in 1889, Mr. McNaughton was united in marriage with Miss Agatha Biddle, of Mackinac island. Her father, John Biddle, was a prominent citizen of Mackinac county and was the honored County Clerk for twenty-eight years, serving in that office at the time of his death, which occurred March 3, 1886. He married Miss Lucy Chapman, a daughter of Bela J. Chapman, who for many years lived on Mackinac island. He removed from Champlain county, New York, to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, whence he came to the island. Mrs. Biddle died in 1879, at the age of forty-eight years. In her family were four children, namely: —- Nicholas, who was County Clerk in Mackinac county, and died in 1885, leaving a family in St. Ignace; Grace R., wife of Angus Rankin, of St. Ignace; and Mrs. McNaughton. The children of our subject and his wife are: Leroy, who was born April 4, 1880; and Otto Biddle, born March so, 1884.

When real-estate transactions were very active in Sault de Ste. Marie, Mr. McNaughton dealt to quite an extent in that town. His business interests have been well managed and his policy has ever been that of an honorable, straightforward man. Socially, he is connected wiht the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of Sault de Ste. Marie and the consistory of Indianapolis. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias.

From the "Northern Peninsula of Michigan 1895"