New-York tribune., 1908-01-08
SAMUEL FESSENDEN DEAD
Prominent IN Connecticut and Ma
tionaZ Politics for Years.


Stamford Conn. Jan. samuel Fessenden' OF
this city q former State Senator, ana one OF the
most prominent men In Connecticut. died here to-
day from heart disease.
Mr.. Fessenden had long been III. but at tunes
would appear to regain his former strength anu
would re-engage in his law practice and IN MS
work as states attorney for Fairfield County with
his oldtine vigor In the last three months however
the relapses due TO kidney trouble, became more
frequent and brought about marked changes IN
his appearance so that friends and family were
not unprepared for his death Heart disease also
developed and this morning. in one of his sinking
SPELLS his life ebbed away.
Samuel Fessenden was a native of Rockiand'
Me-. where he born April L. 1s4i. one OF
twelve children of the Rev. Samuel c. Fessenden-
He had two uncles in the lower branch of the
37th Congress While student at LEWIS
ton Academy Mr.. Fessenden enlisted. in April,
1854 as a private in the eth Maine Battery. ist
Regiment Maine Light Artillery, served in the
campaign of the Wilderness and until the end OF
the Civil War, being successfully promoted to ser
geant major and second lieutenant. After being
mustered out Mr.. Fessenden resumed his studle5
and was graduated from the Harvard Law School
In 1871. His family in the mean time having moVed
to Stamford he began the practice of Ia" in that
city and In 1880 was appointed states attorney
for Fairfield County, Office which he held untu
his death
Early in his public career he became active IN
politics and was elected to the General Assembly
IN 1874 and 1879. In 1876 he was delegate 10 the
Republican National Convention which nominated
Rutherford B. Hayes for the Presidency; was
again a delegate in 1880. and from 1854 to lSss ne
was secretary of the Republican National CoHl-
nlittee taking active part in the Blaine campaign
II was one of the great disappointncnts of his life
when that nominee defeated. He was again
delegate in 1888, and when Thomas B. Reed OF
Maine was a candidate before the Republican
National Convention in 1895, Mr.. Fessenden neaoeu
the Connecticut delegation.
With Joseph ManIey OF Maine, he was one or
the strongest supporters of Mr.. Reed. but when
the Mckinley boom began to gather strength MI
Maney, believing his candidates chances TO be
hopeless climbed on hoard the Mckinley band
wagon Mr.. Fessenden, always noted for MS
logged persistence in political affairs, was so en-
ragged at this evidence of faint heartedn@ss that ne
went over to his former ally, shook his fist In the
Maine mans facN and shouted Joe, GOO AinllgnIS
hates quitter!''
During his whole political life Mr.. Fessenden
cherished the ambition of going to the United
States Senate. IN 1899 he candidate before
the General Assembly, and had Morgan G. Bulke-
lev as an opponent. 1t warm contest. and
Mr. BuIkeey threw his strength to Joseph r.
Hawley and defeated Mr.. Fessenden. In prepara-
ton for this fight Mr.. Fessenden had sought and
obtained an election TO the Connecticut House OF
Representatives in 1895. and had been Its speaker
lev then being in i'll health for the purpose of TAX
ing part in the fight over the United States Sen
atorshp. Senator Havley died. and Mr.. Fessen-
den as a candidate, again had Mr.. Bulkeley as an
opponent The latter won
| Upon the death of Senator Orvilie II. Platt. a
few months later, Mr.. Fessenden was third time
q candidate for the Senatorshp. but withdrew and
in the great contest which followed he at last
threw his strength to Mr.. Braudegee, who was
nominated by the Republicans on the thirty-sev-
enth ballot Mr.. Fessenden's withdrawal, IT later
became known, was due to failing health He
went to Europe for time but his disease could
not be stayed. He kept at his practice, however,
and appeared in court late as in November.
| One of Mr. Fessendens most remarkable achieve
ments as 2 lawyer was his success in collecting
from the United States government Connecticut s
claim for money spent In equipping and maintain
ing the states quota of soldiers in the Civil War
The local authorities did not believe that the claim
could be collected, and agreed 10 give Mr.. Fessen
den one quarter of whatever he might obtain In
1903 Congress allowed the claim in full amounting
to s6oS $50 and Mr.. Fessenden received S5l,So as
his fee.
Mr. Fessendeu married IN June. 1878. to Miss
Helen NJ Davenport, who died in 1905. He leaves
two daughters and son, three brothers and
seven sisters. The body will be cremated, as was
that of Mrs Fessenden. There will be public
funeral at the First Congregational Church. in
Stamford at . o'clock Saturday afternoon.