Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-04-26
Biographical sketch.

Biographical sketch.
Roscoe Conkling was born in Albany N Y
Oct. 80. 1929. His father, Albert Conkling. was
a Representative in the Sevente nth Congre ss,
and afterward filed the positions Of United
York and Minister to Mexico. Roscoe received
CO mmon school and academic education. Re-
moving to Auburn and Geneva with his
father he studied law three, years un:
the law Office OF Spencer & Herman in
Utica, and in lei9 was appointed by Hamilton
Fish District Attorney OF Oneida County, sew
eral months before he attained his majority.
On the day he was 81 he was admitted to the
bar During the next decade he disclosed
rare qualities OF management. and be-
came leader in local politics. In law
he ranked with the first of the profess
sion as an advocate. The triumphs he achieved
at the bar. and which were his passports to pub
lie preference were gained before he reached
the age OF 20. After that he accepted but few
cases, but in these his success was marked
He married Julia Seymour, sister OF eI-Gov.
Horatio Seymour. In 1858 he was elected
Mayor of Utica, and in November of the same
year he was elected q Representative in the
Thirty sixth Congress and took his seat in that
body at the beginning OF its first session,
in December, 1879, session noted for
It's long and bitter contest over the Speaker
ship; He was reelected in 1860, his brother,
the same time for q New York City district.
The two brothers entered the Thirty-seventh
Congress- at the opening Of the special session
convened by President Lincoln, July 4, 1861.
In this Congress Roscoe Conkling was Chair-
man Of tho Committee ON the District OF Co
lumbia, and also of a special committee ap-
candidate for reelection to the Thirty
eighth Congress, he was defeated by his
old law partner. Francis Kefnan. In 1864
Conkling defeated him, serving on the Com
mittees on Ways and Means and on Reconstruct
tion. He startled the nation by an attack on
the tactics OF General Mcclellan, and gave
the keynote for earnestness in all future
war Legislation at time when hesitancy and
vaeillation prevailed. In February, 1862, he
opposed Mr.. spaulding's legal-tender act by
prevailing party policy, Mr.. Horizons amend
ment providing for tho issue OF an interest
bearing note and against the final passage
of the bill as amended by Thaddeus Stevens,
In the same session he voted for the payment
OF interest on the debt In coin. Mr. Conkling
was a Arm upholder OF all legislation tending
to uphold the hands OF the administration in
prosecuting the war for the suppression OF the
rebellion. In the fall Of 1856 he was elected
to the Fortieth Congress, but before that Con-
Ira Harris as United States Senator from
the State of New York. He took his seat
in the Senate March 4, 1867. and was re-
elected twice, his second term beginning
March 4, 1878. and his third term March 4, 1879.
He was Jealous supporter OF General Grants
administration The, general policy OF that
administration toward the South was largely
directed by Senator Conkling, who advocated
IL with all the powers OF his sloquence
snd snd Sn,.tn all shS RSsssnSy Of his personal
largely instrumental in the inception
and passage of the civil rights bill In
1876 he took a prominent part In framing the
act for the Electoral Commission, and in carry
ing IL through. In 1880 Senator Conkliug led
the Grant forces at the Republican NOM
mating convention in Chicago, and made
the speech p tting him in nomination. Soon
after the election OF President Garfield he
differed from him on questions Of public policy
and In 1881 he resigned his seat In the Senate
and applied to the Legislature OF New York for
indoi sement and re election. He failed In
this and retired from politics, resuming the
active practice Of law to redeem his
fortunes which were sadly shattered. He
speedily assumed the foremost position at the
New York bar, and was engaged In a number
Of prominent and remunerative cases.
OF late pears he had been repeatedly solicited
10 re-enter politics, and his recent replies mad
indicated that be might reoousidor tho resoiu-
tion he made I'm 1881 Mr. ponkling had a mar.
row escape from death In the late New York
blizzard, being almost overcome one night In tho
drifts and the binding snow, and only his mag
nthcent physique carried him through, AT.
though his hair and bearl had whiteped OF late
years, Mr.. Conkling still retained his fine phys.
ical proportions, which would have made him
mar&ed man In any asseniblage.