JOHN GERALD REAL

JOHN GERALD REAL, county treasurer of Baraga County, Michigan, and a leading citizen of L'Anse, was born in Houghton County, Michigan, October 28, 1865, and is a son of Garrett and Margaret (Mehony) Real, both of whom were born in Ireland. The family came to Michigan in 1865 and located in Baraga County in 187I, when the railroad was in course of construction. The father died in 189J, but the mother still resides in Baraga. Our subject is the oldest of a family of five children, all of whom are living. He was educated in the public schools at L'Anse and took a commercial course at the Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Detroit, Michigan, completing the same prior to his 14th year, and accepting then a clerical position in a drug store at L'Anse. He was an ambitious youth, and in addition to attending to his duties at the store learned telegraphing. Four years later his fidelity and industry were rewarded by being appointed manager of a branch store at Baraga, for D. J. Norton, this being the first drug business established in that place. In 1890 Mr. Real embarked in a drug business for himself at Baraga, which he successfully conducted until the fall of 1898, when, turning his drug business over to his brother, he made a visit to the Klondike gold fields. Mr. Real remained two years prospecting in Alaska, but returned to Baraga after a severe attack of typhoid fever at Nome. He resumed the drug business for a time and then spent a season in prospecting through Baraga County, many making friends in every section. In the fall of 1902 he was nominated and later elected to the office of county treasurer, an office he most efficiently fills. For one year he was game warden of Ontonagon County and has been tendered many offices of responsibility by his Democratic friends.

Source: Biographical Record, Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties.  Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1903.