William F. Aldrich

William Farrington Aldrich (March 11, 1853 – October 30, 1925) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Alabama. He was brother of Truman Heminway Aldrich and great-great-grandfather of William J. Edwards.

This article is about William Farrington Aldrich, the U.S. Representative from Alabama. For William Aldrich, the U.S. Representative from Illinois, see William Aldrich.

William F. Aldrich
Congressman William F. Aldrich (R-AL), 1896
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th district
In office March 13, 1896 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	Gaston A. Robbins
Succeeded by	Thomas S. Plowman
In office February 9, 1898 – March 3, 1899
Preceded by	Thomas S. Plowman
Succeeded by	Gaston A. Robbins
In office March 8, 1900 – March 3, 1901
Preceded by	Gaston A. Robbins
Succeeded by	Sydney J. Bowie
Personal details
Born	William Farrington Aldrich March 11, 1853 (1853-03-11) Palmyra, New York
Died	October 30, 1925 (1925-10-31) (aged 72) Birmingham, Alabama
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Josephine Cables Aldrich Fannie Spire Aldrich
Alma mater	Warren's Military Academy
Profession	politician manufacturer editor publisher

Biography

Born in Palmyra, New York,[1] Aldrich was the son of William F. and Louisa Maria (Klapp) Aldrich. He attended public schools; and moved with his father to New York City in 1865, where he attended several schools and graduated from Warren's Military Academy in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1873. He moved to Alabama in 1874. He leased the coal mines in Aldrich from his brother Truman, who was prospecting for new coal seams in the area. He was married on April 16, 1889, to writer and editor Josephine Cables, who died in 1917. He married Fannie Spire on July 15, 1920.

Career

Former Residence of William F. Aldrich in Washington, D.C.

Aldrich was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress, defeating Gaston A. Robbins; to attend the Fifty-fifth Congress, defeating Thomas S. Plowman; to attend the Fifty-sixth Congress, again defeating Robbins. He served from March 13, 1896, to March 3, 1901.[2]

Declining to run for reelection in 1900, Aldrich was involved in mining and manufacturing and built up the town that bears his name. He was editor, owner and publisher of the Birmingham (Alabama) Times. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1904. He engaged in the development of mineral lands until his death.[3]

Death

Aldrich died in Birmingham, Alabama, October 30, 1925 (age 72 years, 233 days). He was cremated and his ashes are interred in the family vault located in Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.[4]

William F. Aldrich was the last Republican to represent Alabama in Congress until 1965.

References

1. Leonard, John William; Marquis, Albert Nelson, eds. (1908), Who's who in America, 5, Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, Incorporated, p. 22.
2. "William F. Aldrich". Grotrack US Congress. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
3. "William F. Aldrich". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
4. "William F. Aldrich". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 17 May 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "William F. Aldrich (id: A000087)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• "Herringshaw's encyclopedia of American biography of the nineteenth century. Accurate and succinct biographies of famous men and women in all walks of life who are or have been the acknowledged leaders of life and thought of the United States since its formation". Archive.org. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
• "William Farrington Aldrich (1853 - 1925) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2013-05-16.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Gaston A. Robbins	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1896–1897	Succeeded by Thomas S. Plowman
Preceded by Thomas S. Plowman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1898–1899	Succeeded by Gaston A. Robbins
Preceded by Gaston A. Robbins	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 4th congressional district 1901–1901	Succeeded by Sydney J. Bowie

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.