Cyrus L. Dunham
Cyrus L. Dunham | |
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![]() Dunham in 1862 | |
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's2nddistrict | |
In office 1849–1853 | |
Preceded by | Thomas J. Henley |
Succeeded by | William H. English |
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's3rddistrict | |
In office 1853–1855 | |
Preceded by | John L. Robinson |
Succeeded by | George G. Dunn |
Secretary of State of Indiana | |
In office 1858–1861 | |
Governor | Ashbel P. Willard Abram A. Hammond |
Preceded by | Daniel McClure |
Succeeded by | William A. Peele |
Personal details | |
Born | Cyrus Livingston Dunham January 16, 1817 Dryden, New York,U.S. |
Died | November 21, 1877 | (aged 60)
Political party | Democratic |
Cyrus Livingston Dunham(January 16, 1817 – November 21, 1877) was an attorney, soldier, and prominentIndianapolitician, serving most notably as aU.S. RepresentativefromIndianafrom 1849 to 1855.
Biography
[edit]Born inDryden, New Yorkin 1817, Dunham attended public schools, and eventually taught school. After earning a law degree and beingadmitted to the Bar,he moved toSalem, Indianain 1841 and began practicing law. Dunham was elected prosecuting attorney ofWashington County, Indianain 1845 and then served as a member of theIndiana State House of Representativesfor one term from 1846 to 1847.
Dunham then successfully ran forCongress,being elected to theThirty-first,Thirty-second,andThirty-thirdCongresses (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1855) as aDemocrat.He served asChairmanof theCommittee on Roads and Canalsduring the Thirty-third Congress. After his time in Congress, he was appointed byGovernorAshbel P. WillardasSecretary of State of Indiana,serving from 1859 to 1860.
During theAmerican Civil War,Dunham served in theUnion ArmyasColonelof the50th Indiana Infantry Regiment.He was commissioned on December 1, 1861, and honorably discharged on November 4, 1863.
Dunham was again elected as a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives for another term from 1864 to 1865. He married Malvina B. Markwell on January 6, 1870. He also lived inJeffersonville, Indianawhile serving as Judge ofClark County, IndianaCriminal Court from 1871 to 1874.
Work as an attorney
[edit]As an attorney Cyrus Livingston Dunham defended some of the notoriousReno Gangmembers inBrownstown, Indiana.In addition, he was rumored to have shipped the skulls of two other criminals hung by vigilantes in the same town to New York City.
From an article inThe New York Timesarticle:
Louisville (Kentucky), Tuesday, May 27, 1862:
Col. C.L. DUNHAM, of the Fiftieth Indiana, at Bowling Green, is suspected and criticised by Unionists of Warren, members of his regiment, and the Bedford (Ind.) Press. He is charged with disloyal sympathies, squinting at treason, neglecting his duty, giving up to "pleasurable indulgences," abusing and insulting his men. If he can exculpate himself, well. If not, he'll be cashiered.[1]
References
[edit]- ^FROM KENTUCKY.; Brigandage Bullies Arrested Cyrus L. Dunham The Cumberland Presbyterians comparison of Prices A Convert's Confessions, &c."The New York TimesLouisville, Tuesday, May 27, 1862 ".Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- The New York TimesArticle1862
- American Civil War Soldiers Database,Provo, Utah, USA
- W.P.A. Book 6, page 557,Marriages in Floyd County, Indiana
- Anarchy in the Heartland,2008, by A. David Distler, page 66
- United States Congress."Cyrus L. Dunham (id: D000540)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Retrieved on 2009-04-07
External links
[edit]- "Cyrus L. Dunham".Find a Grave.Retrieved2009-04-07.
- The Battle at Parker's Crossroads, TennesseeCyrus L Dunham commanding Union Forces.
This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress