Thomas Maxwell
Thomas Maxwell | |
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Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's25thdistrict | |
In office 1829–1831 | |
Preceded by | David Woodcock |
Succeeded by | Gamaliel H. Barstow |
Personal details | |
Born | Tioga Point,Bradford County, Pennsylvania,U.S. | February 16, 1792
Died | November 4, 1864 Elmira, New York,U.S. | (aged 72)
Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery |
Political party | Jacksonian |
Parent |
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Thomas Maxwell(February 16, 1792 – November 4, 1864) was an attorney and politician, serving for one term from 1829 to 1831 as aU.S. RepresentativefromNew York,as well as in county and state offices.
Early life and education
[edit]Thomas Maxwell was born on February 16, 1792, at Tioga Point (nowAthens),Bradford County, Pennsylvania.His father,Guy Maxwell,was an Indian trader and was adopted by theSeneca(Iroquois) in the same year.[1]The senior Maxwell moved his family toElmira(then Newtown Point), New York, in 1796. In 1804, he was adopted by the Seneca people, given the nameHe-je-no,meaning "the brave boy".[1]
War of 1812
[edit]During the War of 1812, Guy Maxwell was appointed quartermaster of a regiment of Cavalry attached to the brigade of General Vincent Mathews.
After the war he served as clerk ofTioga County, New Yorkfrom 1819 to 1829.
Congress
[edit]Maxwell was elected as a Jacksonian to theTwenty-firstCongress (March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831). He served as chairman of the Committee on Accounts (Twenty-first Congress).
Later career
[edit]He engaged in the prosecution of pension claims.
He studied law and was admitted to practice in the court of common pleas of old Tioga County in 1832. He was editor of theElmira Gazettefrom 1834 to 1836, and was appointed as US postmaster of Elmira, serving 1834–1839. Deputy clerk of Chemung County in 1836. Treasurer of Chemung County in 1836–1843. He was chosen as a vice president of theNew York and Erie RailroadCo. in 1841. He served as commissioner of loans of United States deposit and of State funds in 1843.
About 1845 Maxwell moved his family toGeneva, New York,upon his appointment as deputy clerk of the State supreme court.
Later in life, Maxwell became an Iroquois agent, and made many notes on them, which were in his daughter's hands.Red Jackethad his portrait painted for Maxwell; they were warm friends. Eighty years after the formal adoption of Maxwell, his daughter Harriet (later known asHarriet Maxwell Converse) was formally adopted by the family of Red Jacket. She was given many mementos, such as a necklace made of 79 little silver brooches, which had been worn by Red Jacket; and also his Masonic pin.[1]
Death
[edit]Maxwell died in Elmira on November 4, 1864, and was interred inWoodlawn Cemeteryin Elmira.
References
[edit]- ^abcMurray 1908,p. 186.
Bibliography
[edit]- United States Congress."Thomas Maxwell (id: M000271)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Murray, Louise Welles (1908).A History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens, Pennsylvania(Public domain ed.). Athens, Pa. p.186.
Attribution
[edit]This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:L. W. Murray'sA History of Old Tioga Point and Early Athens, Pennsylvania(1908)
- 1792 births
- 1864 deaths
- Quartermasters
- American military personnel of the War of 1812
- United States Army officers
- Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
- 19th-century New York (state) politicians
- 19th-century American legislators
- Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Elmira, New York)