The Republican journal., 1908-01-16
SAMUEL FESSENDEN DEAD.

STANFORD, CONN, Jan. 7. Samuel
Fessenden, of this city, former State
senator and one of the most prominent
men in Connecticut, died Tuesday from
heart trouble.
Mr.. Fessenden had been ill for a long
time, but at times he would seem to
have regained his former strength and
would re-engage in his law practice and
as States attorney for Fairfield county
with his old time vigor. During the
last three months the relapses due to
kidney trouble brought about marked
changes in his appearance aud his
friends and family were prepared for
his death during one of those sinking
spells. Affection of the heart also de-
veloped and this morning during one
of these spells his life ebbed away.
MI Fessenden was native OF Rock,
land, Me-, where he was born on April
y, 1S47, one of - children OF Rev.
Samuel G. Fessendeu. He had two
uncles in.the lower branch OF the 37th
Congress. While student at Lewiston
academy, Mr.. Fessenden enlisted IN the
Seventh Maine battery and served IN
the campaign of the Wilderness and
afterwards was captain in the Second
United States Infantry, his appoint
Grant. He served at a later period
with the First Maine battery and on
the staff of Gen. A. P. Howe. At the
close of the war Mr.. Fessenden left the
service and i'm 1869 was graduated from
the Harvard law school. His family in
the meantime had moved to Stamford.
He began the practice of law here and
in 1890 was appointed States attorney
for Fairfield county, which office he
held until his death.
Early in his public career he became
a prominent figure in politics, going to
the general assembly in 1874 and 1879.
In 1876 he was a delegate to the Repub-
licau National convention which noml-
mated Rutherford B. Hayes for the
presidency, again delegate III 1854.
and was made secretary of the National
Republican committee taking active
part in the Blaine campaign. 1t was
one of the great dlsappointments OF his
life when that nominee was defeated.
When Thomas B. Reed was a candi-
date before the Republican National
convention Mr.. Fessenden headed the
Connecticut delegation. He worked
hard for MI Reed and when Joseph
Manley swung away from Mr.. Reed Nj.
Fessenden gave utterance to the words,
"God Almighty hates a gutter =
Mr.. Fessenden cherished the ambl-
ton during his entire political life of
going to the United States Senate. In
1899 he was a candidate before the gen
eral assembly and had Morgan G.
Buckley as an opponent. 1t was
warm contest and Mr.. Buckley threw
his strength to Joseph Hawley and de-
feated Mr.. Fesseuden. This was in
1899, and in preparation for the fight
Mr.. Fessenden had gone to the house
four years before and had been speak
er. Two years later he went to the
Senate, Mr. Hawley being in i'll health.
for the purpose of taking part in the
fight. Senator Hawley died and Mr..
Fessenden as candidate had Mr..
Bulkeley again as an opponent. The
latter won.
ITpun the death of Senator Plat few
months later, Mr.. FesSenden was again
a candidate but withdrew, and In the
great contest which followed he finally
threw his strength to Mr.. Brandegee,
vino was nominated by the Republicans
on the 37th BALLOT. MT. FeSSenden s
withdrawal, it later became known,
was due to failing health. He went to
Europe for a time, but the decline could
not be stayed. He kept at his practice
with energy and appeared IN court
actively as late as November. Among
his fellow practitioners his attentlon 10
duty and his interest in politics were
considered little short of wonderful.
Mr.. Fessenden's wife died i'll 1905.
He is survived by two daughters and
one son and three brothers and seven
sisters.