Samuel C. Crafts

Samuel Chandler Crafts (October 6, 1768 – November 19, 1853) was a United States Representative, Senator and the 12th Governor of Vermont.

Samuel Chandler Crafts
United States senator from Vermont
In office April 23, 1842 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Samuel Prentiss
Succeeded by	William Upham
12th Governor of Vermont
In office October 10, 1828 – October 18, 1831
Lieutenant	Henry Olin Mark Richards
Preceded by	Ezra Butler
Succeeded by	William A. Palmer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district
In office March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1825
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	John Mattocks
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large district
In office March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1821
Preceded by	Charles Marsh
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1796 1800–1803 1805
Personal details
Born	(1768-10-06)October 6, 1768 Woodstock, Colony of Connecticut, British America
Died	November 19, 1853(1853-11-19) (aged 85) Craftsbury, Vermont, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican, National Republican, Whig
Spouse(s)	Eunice Wood Crafts
Profession	Politician, Judge

Born in Woodstock in the Colony of Connecticut, Crafts graduated from Harvard College in 1790[1] and moved to Vermont with his parents Mehitible Chandler (sister of the painter Winthrop Chandler), and Ebenezer Crafts, who founded the town of Craftsbury by settling there in 1791. He married Eunice Todd Beardsley and the couple had two children.

Career

Crafts was town clerk from 1799 to 1829 and was a delegate to the Vermont Constitutional convention in 1793 where he was the youngest member.[2] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1796, 1800–1803, and 1805, and was clerk of the house in 1798–1799. He was register of probate from 1796 to 1815 and was assistant judge of the Orleans County Court from 1800 to 1810 and 1825 to 1828.

Crafts made an extensive botanical reconnaissance of the Mississippi Valley in 1802. He was a member of the State Council of Censors from 1809 to 1813.[3] This Council consisted of twelve men and shared executive power with the Governor. He was Chief Judge of the Orleans County Court from 1810 to 1816. Crafts was elected to the Fifteenth and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1825. He again served as a member of the governor's council in 1825 and 1826.

Crafts was Governor of Vermont from 1828 to 1831. When he was a member of the Vermont constitutional convention of 1829, he served as its president. Crafts was clerk of Orleans County from 1836 to 1839. In 1842 he was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Samuel Prentiss. On October 26, 1842 he was elected to complete the remainder of Prentiss's term. Crafts served in the Senate from April 23, 1842 to March 3, 1843. He was not a candidate for a full term, and was succeeded by William Upham.[4]

Death

Samuel Crafts retired to his farm in Craftsbury where he died in 1853. He is interred at North Craftsbury Cemetery, North Craftsbury.[5]

References

1. "Samuel C. Crafts". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
2. "Samuel C. Crafts". Freemasons.org. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
3. "Samuel C. Crafts". Freemasons.org. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
4. Hughes, Jeremiah (October 29, 1842). "States of the Union: Vermont". Niles' Weekly Register. Baltimore, MD. p. 130.
5. "Samuel C. Crafts". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 30, 2012.

External links

• United States Congress. "Samuel C. Crafts (id: C000851)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Samuel C. Crafts at Find a Grave
• Samuel C. Crafts papers in Congressional Papers collection, Center for Digital Initiatives, University of Vermont Library
• Inventory of the Crafts Family Collection, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library
• Freemasons.org
• National Governors Association
• The Political Graveyard

Party political offices
Preceded by Ezra Butler	National Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont 1828, 1829, 1830	Succeeded by Heman Allen
Preceded by Heman Allen	National Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont 1832	Succeeded by None
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Daniel Chipman Luther Jewett Chauncey Langdon Asa Lyon Charles Marsh John Noyes	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large congressional district March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1821 Served alongside: Heman Allen, William Hunter, Orsamus C. Merrill, Charles Rich, Mark Richards, Ezra Meech, Rollin C. Mallary and William Strong	Succeeded by (none)
Preceded by (none)	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th congressional district March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1825	Succeeded by John Mattocks
Political offices
Preceded by Ezra Butler	Governor of Vermont 1828–1831	Succeeded by William A. Palmer
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Samuel Prentiss	U.S. senator (Class 3) from Vermont April 23, 1842 – March 3, 1843 Served alongside: Samuel S. Phelps	Succeeded by William Upham
Honorary titles
Preceded by Elisha Mathewson	Oldest living U.S. Senator October 14, 1853 – November 19, 1853	Succeeded by Jonathan Roberts