USA > Connecticut > Evening post annual 1882: biographical sketches (with portraits) of the state officers, representatives in Congress, governor's staff, and senators and members of the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut > Part 4
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In 1868 Gen. Hawley was a delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago, and was elected President of that body, which placed in nomination Gen. U. S. Grant for the Presidency. It was at a time when new and dangerous financial doctrines were being advo- cated and the integrity of the Government was threatened regarding its moneycd obligations, and
to Gen. Hawley was largely due the prevailing sentiments of the convention on the right side of this question. His speech on taking the chair anticipated the platform and contained in one expression, that the bonds of the Government " must be held as sacred as soldiers' graves," all that was needed to close the argument against repudiation or dishonor. Hc was also a member of the convention in 1872, whiel renominated Grant, and was Secretary of the Committee on Resolutions, and again in 1876 at Cineinnati he represented Connceticut and was Chairman of the Resolutions Committee. From 1873 to the elose of the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia he was its President, and at the conclusion of the great exposition he was presented with a hand- some testimonial in recognition of the valuable services he had given to the enterprise as the head of the national commission. In November, 1872, he was elceted to Congress from the First Con- necticut Distriet to fill the unexpired term of Julius L. Strong, deceased. He was elected for a full term succeeding, defeating William W. Eaton, the Democratic candidate. Subsequently he was twiee defcated by George M. Landers and again elected, and in 1880 he deelincd a renomi- nation to become a candidate for United States Senator, to which position the Legislature of 1881 clcetcd him for a term of six years. He was first a candidate for this position in 1868, and was defcated by Gov. Buckingham. In 1872 he ob- tained a caucus nomination, but was defeated by a combination of Republicans and Democrats, who supported Senator Ferry.
General Hawley is a vigorous eampaign speaker, and is always in demand when im- portant elections are pending. He rarely pre- pares his speeches in detail, but relies upon the inspiration of the moment, and in purely cxtem- poraneous effort has few superiors. He has strong and earnest convictions, and possesses the courage to avow them on all proper occasions.
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HON. JOHN R. BUCK.
CONGRESSMAN FIRST DISTRET
HON. JOHN R. BUCK. republican representative in Congress from the First District, was born at Glastonbury, Connecticut, December 6, 1536, and was educated at Wilbraham academy and Wesleyan university.
After completing his academical education he engaged for a while in teaching. Afterwards he studied law, was admitted to the Bar in 1862, and has since practiced his profession at Hartford.
He was for several years the law partner of the non. Julius Is. Strong. He was assistant clerk of the Connecticut House of Representa- tives in 1864, derk in 1995, and clerk of the Senate in 1866. He was president of the Com mon Council of the city of Hartford In This Was City Attorney in 1871 und homn m 1876, and was Treasurer of the county of Hartford from 1863 to 1881. In 1880 and Issl he was a member of the Connectiont Senate In Novel
ber, 1880, he was elected to the Party seventh Congress from the First Congressional Date to succeed General Hawley, who had elected United States Senator, remyog 1704 votes against 15,114 vates given for his Dense crathe competitor Mr. Buck . all of the land- ing lawyers at the Hartford Ber and has been mvolving the powers, duties sol lodeldes af municipal, ra head and ofber uponil-s
Ile was one of the carly goo oders of
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gress by reason especially of his long and active experience in legislative matters. He is a most persistent and patient worker, and invariably wins men and their support to measures more by quiet persuasion thian by oratory. Yet he is a good public speaker-always terse and to the point. So far as attention to the needs of his constituency is concerned, he may be depended
upon to be watchful, and the business interests which he may be called upon to assist will be sure to have a most effective supporter. Though a new member of the House, he has been assign- ed to important committees, including that on the revision of the laws, which is a place sought by leading lawyers in that body.
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HON. JAMES PHELPS.
CONGRESSMAN, SECOND DISTRICT
HON. JAMES PHELPS of Essex, Middlesex county, Democratic Representative in Congress from the Second District of Connecticut, was born in the town of Colebrook, in Litchfield county, in the year 1822. He is a lawyer by profession. He was educated in the common schools and at the Episcopal Academy in Cheshire. He makes no pretension to those classical accomplishments which are the valuable results of a long course of university training and culture. He claims noth. ing of blooded ancestry or pedigree, and nothing of popularity, or ability, or professional attnin- ments and snecess, which are not common to all others of similar advantages Whatever of merit he possesses has been Required by persevering in dustry, energy of purpose, and fidelity to prince ple, which have seenred for him a reasonable measure of public confidence and support
His father was Dr. Lancelot Phelps, who reje-
sented the Litchfield district in Congress from 1835 to 1839. His wife is a daughter of the late Samuel Ingham, who represented the present Second District during the same period that Dir Phelps did the Litchfield district, and at various times held other important trusts under the state and national governments. They were both in- assuming, practical, self-made men, whie inmie no extravagant pretensions, and claimel no sir perior excellened or nhility, anl conalled the highest respect of their follow dieties
Mr. Phelps's professional odonstrobe was aps quired in the office of Mi. Fogloun sis do tho low department of Yale college, whoer soll of lox turers und istriators was they enspeed of the Hon. David Daggett, the Hon, Samuel J Hotel- mitted to the Bar in 1545
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of the Connecticut legislature ; was a judge of the Superior Court from 1863 to 1873, and of the Supreme Court of Errors from 1873 to 1875, when he was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress. By the generous confidence of the people of his district he has since that time continued to be a member of that body.
Mr. Phelps is by nature a conservative. He has no Bourbonism in his composition, and no respect for that spirit of radicalism which would recklessly elevate party at the expense of the best interests of the country. He was an earnest sup- porter of Stephen A. Douglas for the presidency in 1860, not only because he was the regularly- nominated candidate of the Democratic party, but because he detested the rebellion within the party which set up John C. Breckenridge as an independent candidate and thereby insured Demo- cratic defeat and furnished a pretext, though a groundless one, for the actual disintegration of the party and the attempted dismemberment of the Union by the unwarranted secession of the slave-holding states. He regarded the integrity of the Union as of paramount importance, and could see no alternative, in the face of an armed
rebellion against the government, but its sup- pression by the strong hand of military power. During the long and bloody confliet which en- sued, he gave all his influenee and support to the eause of the Union.
His Congressional career has been marked by no demonstrations of display and no attempt or desire to exhibit himself. He has quietly and faithfully attended to his duties, looked carefully after all the wants and interests of his eonstitu- ents, and, where efficient work has been required, has endeavored to perform his part.
He has introduced several measures of public and national importance, and been appointed on some of the most prominent and responsible eom- mittees of the House. In the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses he served on the Commit- tee of Ways and Means. His published speeches on "The resumption of specie payment," "The re-funding of the national debt," "'The employ- ment of United States soldiers at the polls," " The re-eoinage of silver," "The Electoral Commission," "The tariff," and other import- ant questions, have fully expressed his views on those subjects of greatest interest to the people.
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HON. JOHN TURNER WAIT.
CONGRESSMAN, THIRD DISTRICT
HON. JOHN TURNER WAIT of Norwich, of the Third District, was born at New London, August 27, 1811. He received a mercantile training in early life, but, giving up that pursuit, prepared for college at Bacon Academy, Colchester, and entered Trinity College in the fall of 1832, where he remained for two years, prosecuting that course of studies which he deemed best adapted to qualify him for the profession of law. He studied law at first with Hon. L. F. S. Foster of Norwich, and subsequently with Hon. Jabez W. Huntington, and was admitted to the Bar in the fall of 1836. He at once commenced practice in Norwich, and has since resided there.
Mr. Wait is connected by blood with many of the oldest and leading families in eastern Con- nectient. On his father's side he is associated with the Griswolds and Martins of Lyme, while on his mother's side he is a lineal descendant of
William Hyde and Thomas Tracy, two of the thirty five colonists who settled at Norwichy Du 1659. This family have given many prominent members to the legal profession His father was long one of the leading lawyers at the bar of New London county, and for several years a jules the Court of Common Pleas He was a pre- dential elector in 1793, and cast his vate The Washington He was ab one of the sommes sioners appointed by the General Assembly 100 dispose of the western lands and esattolift present school fond Mr. Wait's Father with sorted the town of New Lasphim bre mindre Si ĐI in the General Assembly, and won ter eral times one of the samelldates For Curse of the old Republicmn party darnay the aludmitra of the present Chief Justice of the United States. und cum of the anbest of this shetel, was set
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a leading lawyer of New London county, and for a number of years held the position of Chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the State.
Mr. Wait's maternal grandfather was Dr. Philip Turner, in his day a celebrated surgeon. At the early age of nineteen he was appointed assistant-surgeon of a provincial regiment under General Amherst, and served through the French war. In 1777 Congress elected liim Surgeon- General of the Eastern Department, which station he filled with great ability till near the close of the war of the Revolution. In 1800 lie removed to New York, where he continued in the practice of his profession till he was placed as physician in charge of the troops stationcd at the fortifica- tions in the harbor of that city. This office he held until his death in 1815.
Congressman Wait was State's Attorney for New London county in 1842-44, and also from 1846 till 1854. Since the organization of the Bar Association in that county, in 1874, he has been its president, and for a large number of years has been closely identified with most mat- ters of legal interest in that section of the State. His law practice has been extensive and profita- ble, his commanding influence at the Bar insur- ing him all the business that can possibly be at- tended to. For the past twenty-five years he has been engaged in nearly all the important cases, civil and criminal, that have come before tlie New London County courts. He was counsel for Mrs. Cobb in the celebrated murder case which attracted such wide attention two years ago, and it was no doubt his remarkable plea, occupying seven hours in delivery, that saved her life. Mr. Wait is an eminent jurist, and unquestionably is one of the ablest advocates in Connecticut.
Before the war Mr. Wait was a Democrat in politics, and was nominated by his party for Lieutenant-Governor for four consecutive years from 1854, receiving each year the highest vote of any candidate on the ticket. In 1860 he ad- vocated the election of Stephen A. Douglas as President. At the outbreak of tlic war in 1861 he became a strong Union man.
His son, Lieutenant Marvin Wait, of the Eighth Connecticut regiment, served with distinguished courage on the field. In the gallant charge of that command at Antietam he fell mortally
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wounded. His last words were, as his regiment pressed on, "Are we whipping them ?"
In 1864 Mr. Wait was one of the electors-at- large for Connecticut, on the Lincoln-Johnson Presidential ticket. He was a member of the State Senate from the Eighth District during the years 1865 and 1866, the last year serving as president pro tempore of that body. In 1867 lie was elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives from Norwich, and was nominated for Speaker by acclamation. Probably no gentle- man, as presiding officer of the House, was ever more thoroughly esteemed for " the ability, ur- banity, and impartiality with which lie discharged the duties of the chair." He was again elected to that body in 1871 and in 1873. In the session of 1871 he won unqualified praise for the speech which he delivered in support of the joint resolu- tion declaring Marshall Jewell elected Governor of Connecticut.
In 1874 he was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant-Governor, receiving the highest vote on that ticket. Subsequently he was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. H. H. Starkweather, and was re-elected to the Forty-fifth, the Forty- sixth, and the Forty-seventh Congress, each time by an increased majority.
As a member of Congress Mr. Wait has cared for the interests of his constituents with untiring vigilance and zeal. The extensive industrics which give employment to thousands of citizens in the two eastern counties of the State have had in him an intelligent and watchful guardian. As the advocate and friend of home industries he has steadily opposed in Congress every attempt to impair or weaken the laws under which Con- necticut manufacturing and mechanical interests have sprung up and prospered, and has given his support to every measure calculated to advance the commercial and agricultural prospects of the State.
During his four years of service at Washington he has been invariably attentive to the demands made upon his time and consideration by his con- stituents in matters affecting their private inter- ests. Courteous and frank towards all who have approached him, he has allied men to him by the strongest personal ties, and is universally popular throughout his district and the Statc.
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HON. FREDERICK MILES.
CONGRESSMAN, FOURTH DISTRICT
Hon. FREDERICK MILES was first elected a member of Congress in 1878, carrying his Dis- triet by a plurality vote of 1,179. For years the Fourth District had been a democratic strong- hold, and counted on as certain for that party at every Congressional election. The choice of Mr. Miles, under such circumstances, was conceded to be the result of his personal popularity, which he had established throughont western Connecti- ent by an honest and brilliant business career. At the republican Congressional convention in Bridgeport, early in September, Mr. Mib's was unanimously renominated, not a member of his party in the district being in any way opposed to his candidature. The selection commanded the enthusiastic support of the republicans of Far lild nnd Litchfield counties, nud was ratified ut the polls in November. Congressman Miles was born nt Goshen, Litchfield county, December 19, 1815, and received a common school und ara
demic education. His father, Augustus Miles. was a prominent citizen of the town, and served in both branches of the State legislature. The family is traced back to Richard Miles, who landed in Boston in 1686, and was one of the original settlers of New Haven. Mr. Miles, the subject of this sketch, engaged in business ht New Haven in 1-82, commencing as a clerk In a dry goods house But after remaining Where somewhat over a year, he returned to Goshen and entered upon n clerk shop in his father's shoe In 1885 he became a partner with his father, and remained in business antd 15 5, In Mes. 1se, he removed to Salisbury, where he has apee Added For the past apetecen years he has caused on the iron business ht Cajake, Coluilas ent; N. Y. The Industry is an Important al that ing one, funghibig wink to a Large mat jord hands. and employees
For a long period he persistently Sochard po
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litical office, it being a fixed principle with him not to accept of any position to which he could not devote all the time necessary for the trans- action of its duties and obligations. With his business increasing from year to year, he felt that he had not the time for politics, and though office was open to him at any time that he would say the word, he steadily resisted the solicita- tions of his friends to aeeept of nominations for political preferment. But in 1877, after the most urgent requests from the republicans of the Seventeenth Senatorial District, he consented to accept the nomination for State Senator, which had been tendered him by acclamation. He was elected in November and took his seat in the Senate at the beginning of the session of 1878. The following year he was nominated for Con- gress by acclamation, and as has already been stated earried his Distriet by a large plurality vote. Mr. Miles served in the 1879 session of the Senate until February 27, when he resigned in order to accept of his seat in the National Congress. The day after his resignation, Scna- tor Gilbert W. Phillips of the Fourteenth Dis- triet offered the following resolution, which was passed unanimously by the Senate and ordered recorded on the journal :
Resolved, That we regret for ourselves the necessity which has compelled the Hon. Frederick Miles, Senator from the Seventeenth District, to resign his seat in this body, and that we hereby cordially assure him of our con- fidence and estecm, with the hope that abundant pros- perity and happiness may attend him through life.
Senator Phillips spoke in high approval of Senator Miles's character and life, and predicted that the interests of the State would be carefully guarded in his hands in the new sphere of action to which he had been called. Senator Oliver Hoyt of the Tenth Distriet seeonded the passage of the resolution in a handsome speech, in which he expressed thorough appreciation of the ser- vicc rendered by Mr. Miles in the Senate. Hc said he had come to know him as a man of ster- ling character, firm and conservative in his con-
victions and perfectly upright in his purposes. Senator Fagan of the Eighteenth District, a dem- oeratie member, eoneurred in what had been said, and wished to add his appreciation and esteem for Mr. Miles. Senator Whitman of the Third District, also a democratic member, advocated the passage of the resolution and expressed his sin- cere regard and friendship for the Senator from the Seventeenth. It was with these high eulogies from his Senatorial associates, irrespective of party, that Mr. Miles left his place in the Con- necticut Senate to assume the duties of a larger sphere of activity in the National Congress. His eareer in that body has been thoroughly credita- ble and dignified. While not an active partici- pant in debate, he has been a hard worker in the committee rooms, and his votes have always been on the right side. In the matter of tariff legis- lation his votes and efforts have been strongly in favor of protecting American industries. He believes in a tariff that shall ensure protection to American workingmen against the competition of poorly paid foreign laborers, whose produets can be imported and sold here under the cost of our own goods. Hc is also perfectly sound on the financial question, and is opposed to all leg- islation that may impair the financial credit and standing of the United States.
While at Washington he has paid the closest regard to the interests of his constituents. Not a man from Connectieut has ever visited him there on business of any kind, needing his atten- tion or advice, without being received with cour- tesy, and furnished with all the information that could be obtained. With this constant regard for the interests and prosperity of his eonstitu- cnts, it is not an occasion of surprise that Con- gressman Miles is one of the most popular men in the Fourth District. His intelligence, courtesy, and manliness towards every one with whom he comes in contact, and his fidelity in places of public trust entitle him to the high place which he holds in the estecm of his constituents and of the State.
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HON. JOHN R. HILLS.
DISTRICT NO 1
HON. JOHN R. HILLS, Republican Senator from the First District, was a member of the Senate for the term of 1878 and 1879, serving as Chair- man of the Incorporations Committee. At the special election in the spring of 1881 to fill the vacancy in the Senate from the First District cansed by the resignation of Hon. John R. Buck. Mr. Hills was again elected, and served during the closing month of the session. In November he was elected for the third time, defeating his competitor by a splendid majority Mr. Hills's return to the Senate last fall evinced anew his popularity in Hartford. He has never been de- feated at the polls, and has carried his own ward, in local elections, in several different contents, by a majority of 200 votes. Senator Hill's per- sonal popularity has been the guarantee of sie- cess when he has been a candidate before the people.
He was born in Hartford, October 9, 1211, and received n common-school education. He is a
leading contractor and builder in this city, and has done some of the best work in the city. The new Theological Seminary, at the corner of Farmington avenue and Broad street, was creet ed by him. He is also an extensive dealer in real estate, his transactions aggregating larze sous annually For a number of years he has been engaged in the coal business, and is a real- ber of the firm ot Newton & Hills. He is a Breve tor in the United States Trust and the Kellogg & Bulkeles Companies and president of the Hart ford Coment Company, and in various other ways is dentified with the formes interests of the city
Mr. Hills has served two years in the Common Commeil Board and one term in the Board of Al dermon. He has been a member of the Band of The Commissioners for ten years and is af present the presiding officer of the Land In every position which he has been called to fill his comme has been posted by street foodding trants und conscientious devotion to the public welfare
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HON. JOHN S. CHENEY.
DISTRICT NO 2
HON. JOHN S. CHENEY of South Manchester, Republican Senator from the Second District, served as Chairman of the Committee on Manu- factures and on New Counties and County Seats last year, discharging the duties of the position with ability and success. In 1877 he was a member of the House from Manchester, and proved himself an able and influential represent- ative.
Senator Cheney has traveled extensively in this and foreign countries. During a residence of sixteen years in California and Australia, he filled at different times the offices of mayor, town councillor, and justice of the peace, and also as sisted in the management of various charitable and other local institutions,
He was for seven years a member of the Con- nectient national guard, serving as first helten-
ant and captain of Company G, ot the First Regiment, and is thoroughly conversant with military affairs.
He was formerly engaged in mercantile pin- suits, but has been for the past eighteen years a silk manufacturer and a member of the well known firm of Cheney Brothers, and possesses first-class business fruits and training
Senator Cheney was one of the " Argonauts of California, leaving New York for the Peut. coast in December, 1515, I way of Cape Heen. He is a native of South Manchester, and was born April 14. 127. He Hedied in seven education, and is a man of large hen Party with men und athun. His senatorial for has won fre In the most cordial approval of his constituents low hands
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HON. RIAL STRICKLAND.
DISTRICT NO 3
HON. RIAL STRICKLAND of Enfield, Democratic Senator from the Third District, was born at Stafford, January 23, 1814, and was educated at Monson Academy and the Albany Medical Col- lege. He also studied medicine with Dr. Hamil- ton of Somers. In 1840 he commenced the practice of his profession at Longmeadow, Mass .. and remained a resident of that town until 1859. representing it one year in the General Court of the State. When elected representative, he re- ceived every vote but sixteen in the town. In 1859 he removed to Enfield, and has since re- sided there, in the active practice of his pro- fession.
Dr. Strickland is one of the most popular with zens of Enfield, and received at the Senatoril
election in November a majority of 342 votes in the town, which includes the populous industrial center of Thompsonville. His majority in the district was 102.
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