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Roswell Farnham

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Governor of Vermont (1880-1882)

Roswell Farnham
38th Governor of Vermont
In office
October 7, 1880 – October 5, 1882
LieutenantJohn L. Barstow
Preceded byRedfield Proctor
Succeeded byJohn L. Barstow
Member of the Vermont Senate from Orange County
In office
1868–1870Serving with James Hutchinson Jr.
Preceded byBurnham Martin
Hiram Barrett
Succeeded byHeman A. White
Harry H. Niles
State's Attorney of Orange County, Vermont
In office
1859–1862
Preceded byCharles C. Dewey
Succeeded byJohn W. Rowell
Personal details
Born(1827-07-23)July 23, 1827
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 5, 1903(1903-01-05) (aged 75)
Bradford, Vermont
Resting placeBradford Town Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Elizabeth Johnson
EducationUniversity of Vermont
ProfessionAttorney
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States (Union)
Branch/serviceUnion Army
Years of service1861-1863
RankLieutenant Colonel
Unit1st Vermont Infantry
12th Vermont Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Roswell Farnham (July 23, 1827 – January 5, 1903) was an American politician of the Republican Party, an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, a lawyer, and the 38th governor of Vermont.

Biography

Farnham was born in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Roswell and Nancy Bixby Farnham. His father was in business and moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he began manufacturing boots and shoes until 1839. The financial downturn ruined him. In 1840 Roswell moved with his father and family to a farm on the Connecticut River in Bradford.

Farnham entered the junior class University of Vermont, where he was a member of the Lambda Iota Society: graduated in 1849, and earned a degree of A. M. in 1852. On December 25, 1849, he married Mary Elizabeth Johnson of Bradford. The couple had three children, Charles Cyrus, Florence Mary, and William Mills.

Career

Farnham taught school at Dunham, Lower Canada; was principal of Franklin Academical Institution, Franklin, Vermont; later taught at the Bradford Academy. He studied law during that time and was admitted to the Orange County Bar 1857. He formed partnership with Robert McK. Ormsby until 1859 when he began practicing independently. He was elected states attorney 1859, and twice re-elected.

During the early part of the Civil War, Farnham was a second lieutenant in the Bradford Guards, a company in the 1st Vermont Infantry. Later, he was a captain and then the lieutenant colonel of the 12th Vermont Infantry, and for nearly half the term of his nine months of service was in command of the regiment.

After the war, Farnham resumed practice of law at Bradford, and was Republican candidate for representative in the Legislature, but was defeated. He was elected to the Vermont State Senate from Orange County in 1868 and 1869. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention and presidential elector 1876.

Farnham was elected Governor of Vermont in 1880 by a majority of over 26,000, at that time the third-largest majority ever recorded in the state of Vermont. During his tenure, he focused on school and prison reform. He also sought ways to encourage manufacturing businesses to relocate to Vermont.

Death

He died in Bradford and is interred at Bradford Town Cemetery, Bradford, Vermont.

References

  1. Catalogue of the Lambda Iota Society of the University of Vermont. Philadelphia, PA: Lambda Iota Society (University of Vermont). 1903. p. 27.
  2. ^ "Roswell Farnham". Rockvillemama.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  3. ^ "Roswell Farnham". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  4. "General Election Results - Governor - 1789-2012" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. "Roswell Farnham". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

Further reading

  • Prentiss C. Dodge, compiler, "Encyclopedia Vermont Biography," Ullery Publishing Company, Burlington, Vermont, 1912, p. 45.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded byRedfield Proctor Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont
1880 		Succeeded byJohn L. Barstow
Political offices
Preceded byRedfield Proctor Governor of Vermont
1880–1882 		Succeeded byJohn L. Barstow
Governors of Vermont
Vermont Republic
(1777–1791)
State of Vermont
(since 1791)
Italics indicate acting governor
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