Schuyler Colfax Jr. (1823 - 1885)

Born 23 Mar 1823 in Schodack, Rensselaer, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ellen Maria (Wade) Colfax — married 18 Nov 1868 in Ashtabula County, Ohio

Descendants

Died 13 Jan 1885 at age 61 in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: US Presidents Project WikiTree [send private message]

Schuyler Colfax Jr. is a US Vice President Join: US Presidents Project Discuss: Presidents

Preceded by Vacant from 1865 Preceded by 24h Speaker Galusha A. Grow

17th Vice President of the United States of America 1869—1873 25th Speaker of the US House of Representatives December 7, 1863—March 3, 1869

Succeeded by Henry Wilson Succeeded by 26th Speaker Theodore M. Pomeroy

17th Vice President of the United States

Biography

Schuyler Colfax Jr. is Notable.

Schuyler Colfax was born^{[1] [2]} to Schuyler Califax and Hannah Striker on Mar. 23, 1823 to Schuyler Colfax and Hannah Stryker in Schodack, Rensselaer, New York. His father died from tuberculosis before his birth.^[3][4]

Schuyler's mother, Hannah, ran a boarding house, along with her mother. She eventually married George W. Matthews^[5] in 1834.

Dropped Out of School at Age 10

Schuyler attended public school in New York City until he dropped out at the age of ten to became a clerk at a store, bringing an end to his formal education.^[6]

In 1836, the family moved to New Carlisle, Indiana and in 1841, to South Bend where he served for eight years as a deputy auditor for St. Joseph County under his step-father, who was the auditor.^[7][4]

Editor and Publisher

He served as an assistant enrolling clerk of the state senate and also a senate reporter for the Indiana State Journal. At the age of 19, he became the editor of the South Bend Free Press which he later bought in 1845, he changed the name to St. Joseph Valley Register, which he published for 9 years.^[8][4]

On Oct. 10, 1844, he married Evelyn Clark. They had no children and she died^[9] in 1863.

29th Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives

In 1850, Schuyler became a member of the state constitutional convention^[10], and in 1854, he took an active part in organizing the "Anti-Nebraska men" in his state, which later, along with the northern Whigs, Know Nothings and Free Soilers, became known as the Republicans.^[11] They sent him to Congress where he served from 1855 until 1869, the last six years as speaker of the House.^[12][4]

Founder of Rebekah Degree of the IOOF

During this time, Colfax, who was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellow (IOOF), was appointed along with two others, to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree. On Sept. 1851, the degree was approved and Schuyler Colfax became its author and founder.^[13]

Eulogy for President Lincoln

Not one who was known for his eloquence, Colfax came the closest when he gave his eulogy for Abraham Lincoln;

"Murdered, coffined, buried, he will live with those few immortal names who were not born to die; live, as the Father of the Faithful in the times that tried men’s souls; live in the grateful hearts of the dark-browed race he lifted from under the heel of the oppressor to the dignity of freedom and manhood; live in every bereaved circle which has given father, husband, son or friend to die, as he did, for his country; live, with the glorious company of martyrs to liberty, justice and humanity, that trio of Heaven-born principles; live, in the love of all beneath the circuit of the sun, who loathe tyranny, slavery and wrong."^[14][4]

A New Republican Party

By the end of the Civil War, Schuyler Colfax was a leading member of the radical wing of the Republican party, advocating the disfranchisement of all who had been prominent in the service of the Confederacy, declaring that "loyalty must govern what loyalty has preserved."^[15]

Vice President of the United States

In 1868, he accepted the Republican nomination as Vice President serving with General Ulysses S. Grant and was elected.^[16][4]

Two weeks later, Schuyler married^[17] Ella M. Wade, the niece of Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade. They had one son, Schuyler Colfax, III, who was born in 1870.

Corruption Ends His Political Career

Seeking another nomination in the 1872 election, he was implicated along with other prominent politicians in corruption following the Credit Mobilier scandal.^{[18] [19]} During the course of the congressional investigation, it was found that he had in fact agreed to take twenty shares and had received dividends amounting to $1200.^[20][4]

While under investigation, it was also found that in 1868, he had received a campaign contribution of $4000 from a contractor who had supplied the government with envelopes while Colfax was a chairman of the post office committee of the House.

Death in Minnesota

Schuyler Colfax returned to private life and earned a living on the lecture tour. Walking between train depots in Mankato, Minnesota on Jan. 13, 1885, Schuyler Colfax died^[21] after suffering a heart attack brought on by freezing cold temperatures and exhaustion at the age of 61 yrs.^[4]

He is buried in the City Cemetery (Lot 4 - Block 1 - 1 West) at South Bend, Indiana.^[22]

Legacy

• Colfax County, Nebraska and Colfax County, New Mexico are both named in Vice President Colfax's honor.

Sources

1. ↑ New York, Births and Christenings; Rensselaer County; Schodack; Schuyler Califax, 23 Mar 1823
2. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 355-356
3. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 355-356
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7} The National Cyclopedia of National Biography being the History of the United States, James T. White & Co. New York, 1895. Vol IV Page 12-13.
5. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pg. 357
6. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pg. 357
7. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 358-360
8. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 361-364.
9. ↑ New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952, index, FamilySearch E. C. Colfax, 12 Jul 1863; citing Newport, Rhode Island, reference p 16; FHL microfilm 1671686.
10. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, page 360.
11. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 364-365.
12. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 367-372.
13. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, pgs. 366-367.
14. ↑ Illustrated life, services, martyrdom and funeral of Abraham Lincoln, pgs. 261-274
15. ↑ Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns by Clare D'Artois Leeper, pg. 70.
16. ↑ The Campaign Lives of Ulysses S Grant and Schuyler Colfax, page 389.
17. ↑ Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958, index, FamilySearch Schuyler Colfax and Ellen M. Wade, 14 Nov 1868; citing Jefferson, Ashtabula, Ohio, reference 2:3KBM9ZG; FHL microfilm 890272.
18. ↑ Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed by Mark Grossman, pg. 66.
19. ↑ Grant Administration Scandals
20. ↑ Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed by Mark Grossman, pg. 66-68.
21. ↑ Minnesota, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990, Schuler Colfax, died 15 Feb 1885; in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minn., reference p 152; FHL microfilm 1309284.
22. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2899/schuyler-colfax: accessed May 7, 2024), memorial page for Schuyler Colfax Jr. (23 Mar 1823–13 Jan 1885), Find a Grave Memorial ID 2899, citing City Cemetery, South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

• The campaign lives of Ulysses S. Grant, and Schuyler Colfax; by James S. Brisbin, pub. 1868
• Illustrated life, services, martyrdom and funeral of Abraham Lincoln ... With a full account of the imposing ceremonies at the national capital, on February 12th, 1866, and the Hon. George Bancroft's oration, delivered on the occasion before both houses of Congress ... With a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and other illustrative engravings of the scene of the assassination, etc. .. by T. B. Peterson & Brothers; pub. 1866

• New York, Births and Christenings, 1640-1962, index, FamilySearch Schuyler Califax, 23 Mar 1823; citing SCHODACK,RENSSELAER,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 930244.
• 1850; Census Place: Portage, St Joseph, Indiana; Roll: M432_171; Page: 1A; Image: 6.
• Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958, index, FamilySearch Schuyler Colfax and Ellen M. Wade, 18 Nov 1868; citing Ashtabula,Ohio, reference ; FHL microfilm 0890265 V. E-F.
• Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997, index and images, FamilySearch Schuyler Colfax and Ellen M. Wade, 18 Nov 1868; citing Ashtabula, Ohio, United States, reference 345; FHL microfilm 890265.
• United States Census, 1860, index, FamilySearch Schuyter Colfax in household of John F Miller, South Bend, St. Joseph, Indiana, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 49, household ID 365, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 803295.
• United States Census, 1870, index and images, FamilySearch Schuyler Colfax in household of Geo W Mathews, Indiana, United States; citing p. 34, family 269, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545859.
• United States Census, 1870, index and images, FamilySearch Schuyler Colifax, District of Columbia, United States; citing p. 39, family 308, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545622.
• United States Census, 1880, index and images, FamilySearch Schuylr Colfax, South Bend, St. Joseph, Indiana, United States; citing sheet 365D, NARA microfilm publication T9.
• Minnesota, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990, index, FamilySearch Schuler Colfax, 15 Feb 1885; citing Mankato, Blue Earth, Minn., reference p 152; FHL microfilm 1309284.
• Indiana, Death Index, 1882-1920, index, FamilySearch Schuyler Colfax, 13 Jan 1885; citing "Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920," Ancestry.com; Mankato Minn, Indiana, County Health Office, South Bend, The source of this record is the book H-17 on page 2 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration..
• Barber, Gertrude A., comp. Deaths taken from the "Brooklyn Eagle." Volumes 1-27. n.p.: n.p., 1963-66.
• Barber, Gertrude A., comp. Deaths taken from the New York Evening Post. Volumes 1-54. n.p.: n.p., 1933-47.
• Utah, Obituaries from Utah Newspapers, 1850-2005, index, FamilySearch Vice-President Schuyler Colfax, 1885.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society; Vol. 136, pg. 313.
• Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed by Mark Grossman, pgs. 66-68.
• Louisiana Place Names: Popular, Unusual, and Forgotten Stories of Towns ... by Clare D'Artois Leeper, pg. 70
• “COLFAX, Schuyler.” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000626. Accessed 07 May 2024.
• Moore, Ambrose Yoemans. The life of Schuyler Colfax T. B. Petersen & Bros; Philadelphia; 1868. https://archive.org/details/lifeofschuylerco00mooruoft/page/n8/mode/1up
• Ryerson, Albert Winslow. The Ryerson Genealogy – Genealogy of the Knickerbocker Families of Ryerson, Ryerse, Ryerss; also Adriance and Martense Families; all descendants of Martin and Adriaen Reyersz (Reyerszn), of Amsterdam, Holland, page 24. Privately printed for Edward L Ryerson; Chicago;1916. https://archive.org/details/ryersongenealogy00ryer
• The National cyclopaedia of American biography – Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women Who are doing the Work and Moulding the Thoughts of the Present Time, Volume 4, page 12. Assorted Editors; James T. White & Co; New York; 1904. https://archive.org/details/nationalcyclopae04newy/page/n10/mode/1up
• The Life and Times of the Hon. Schuyler Colfax - Speaker of the House of Representatives and Republican Candidate for Vice Presidency, page 9. A Distinguished Historian; E. B. Treat and Company; New York; 1868. https://archive.org/13/items/lifetimesofhonsc00unse/lifetimesofhonsc00unse.pdf
• Wilson, James Grant and Fiske, John, Editors. Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American History, Volume I, Aaron – Crandall, page 687. D. Appleton and Company; New York; 1887. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Appleton_s_Cyclopaedia_of_American_Biogr/1h4MAAAAMAAJ?hl=en

For more information, See Also:

• Wikipedia; Schuyler Colfax
• Schuyler Colfax Papers
• New Netherland Institute; Schuyler Colfax
• Senate.Gov; Schuyler Colfax