Roswell Farnham
Encyclopedia
Roswell Farnham was a U.S. politician of the Republican Party and an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
He came to Vermont
with his father 1840, setting at Bradford
; entered the junior class University of Vermont
; graduate, 1849, degree of A. M. 1852. In 1849 married Mary Elizabeth Johnson of Bradford. Taught school at Dunham, Lower Canada
; was principal of Franklin Academical Institution, Franklin, Vermont
; later taught at the Bradford Academy; admitted to the Orange County Bar 1857; formed partnership with Robert McK. Ormsby; began practicing independently 1859; elected states attorney 1859, and twice re-elected.
During the early part of the Civil War, he was a second lieutenant in the Bradford Guards, a company in the 1st Regiment Vermont Volunteers
. Later, he was a captain and then the lieutenant colonel
of the 12th Regiment Vermont Volunteers
, and for nearly half the term of his nine months of service was in command of the regiment.
After the war resumed practice of law at Bradford; Republican candidate for representative in the Legislature, but was defeated; state senator from Orange County 1868 and 1869; delegate to the Republican national convention and presidential elector 1876; elected governor of the state in 1880 by a majority of over 25,000.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He came to Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
with his father 1840, setting at Bradford
Bradford, Vermont
Bradford is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,619 at the 2000 census.-History:The first settler was John Hosmer in 1765...
; entered the junior class University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
; graduate, 1849, degree of A. M. 1852. In 1849 married Mary Elizabeth Johnson of Bradford. Taught school at Dunham, Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
; was principal of Franklin Academical Institution, Franklin, Vermont
Franklin, Vermont
Franklin is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,268 at the 2000 census.The original name was Huntsburgh but the name was changed to Franklin in 1817.-Geography:...
; later taught at the Bradford Academy; admitted to the Orange County Bar 1857; formed partnership with Robert McK. Ormsby; began practicing independently 1859; elected states attorney 1859, and twice re-elected.
During the early part of the Civil War, he was a second lieutenant in the Bradford Guards, a company in the 1st Regiment Vermont Volunteers
1st Vermont Infantry
The 1st Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, in and around Fortress Monroe, Virginia.-History:...
. Later, he was a captain and then the lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 12th Regiment Vermont Volunteers
12th Vermont Infantry
The 12th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a nine months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the Defenses of Washington, from October 1862 to July 1863...
, and for nearly half the term of his nine months of service was in command of the regiment.
After the war resumed practice of law at Bradford; Republican candidate for representative in the Legislature, but was defeated; state senator from Orange County 1868 and 1869; delegate to the Republican national convention and presidential elector 1876; elected governor of the state in 1880 by a majority of over 25,000.