Samuel Medary
Encyclopedia
Samuel Medary Born and raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
, he settled in Ohio
in 1825. After a term in the Ohio House of Representatives
(1834) and the Ohio State Senate (1836–38) as a Jackson Democrat, he purchased a newspaper in Columbus
that became the Ohio Statesman, which he edited until 1857. Active at the National Democratic Conventions at Baltimore
in 1844, where he was instrumental in the nomination of James K. Polk
; and at Cincinnati in 1856, where he was the President pro tem. President James Buchanan
appointed him as the 3rd Territorial Governor of Minnesota
from April 23, 1857 to May 24, 1858. Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858 and elected Henry Hastings Sibley
.
Samuel Medary was also Governor of Kansas Territory
from December 1858 to December 1860. William F. Wheeler
was territory Librarian and the Governor's Secretary while in office.
Returning to Columbus, Ohio, he established a newspaper he named The Crisis
. While living in Columbus, Medary resided at his estate, Northwood Place, located along the Worthington Pike, now North High Street, near Northwood Avenue. Medary was indicted by a federal grand jury
in 1864 for conspiracy against the government and was arrested. He was released on bonds, but died in Columbus, Ohio
before he could be tried.
. The town of Medaryville, Indiana
was also named after him. In North Columbus, Ohio (annexed to the city of Columbus in the late 1800s) a street dating back to the early 1900's Medary Avenue was named for him. Because Columbus Public Schools names its schools for the street on which they are located, Medary Elementary School also carried his surname.
Medary was buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, he settled in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1825. After a term in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
(1834) and the Ohio State Senate (1836–38) as a Jackson Democrat, he purchased a newspaper in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
that became the Ohio Statesman, which he edited until 1857. Active at the National Democratic Conventions at Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
in 1844, where he was instrumental in the nomination of James K. Polk
James K. Polk
James Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States . Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He later lived in and represented Tennessee. A Democrat, Polk served as the 17th Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 12th Governor of Tennessee...
; and at Cincinnati in 1856, where he was the President pro tem. President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
appointed him as the 3rd Territorial Governor of Minnesota
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
from April 23, 1857 to May 24, 1858. Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858 and elected Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley was the first Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota.-Early life and education:...
.
Samuel Medary was also Governor of Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
from December 1858 to December 1860. William F. Wheeler
William F. Wheeler
William Fletcher Wheeler was the third U.S. Marshal for the Montana Territory.Wheeler was born in Warwick, New York, the son of a Methodist minister who moved frequently. At the age of 19 William found work as an apprentice printer and reporter for the Ohio Statesman under Samuel Medary...
was territory Librarian and the Governor's Secretary while in office.
Returning to Columbus, Ohio, he established a newspaper he named The Crisis
The Crisis (newspaper)
The Crisis was a newspaper published during the first half of the American Civil War by Samuel Medary that was critical of the American government's decision to limit slavery, and following the beginning of the war against the Confederate States of America, to wage war against the South...
. While living in Columbus, Medary resided at his estate, Northwood Place, located along the Worthington Pike, now North High Street, near Northwood Avenue. Medary was indicted by a federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
in 1864 for conspiracy against the government and was arrested. He was released on bonds, but died in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
before he could be tried.
Legacy
One of the first townsites in Dakota Territory is named after MedaryMedary, South Dakota
Medary is an unincorporated community in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States.-History:Medary was founded in 1857 by the Dakota Land Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. It was named for Governor Samuel Medary of Minnesota Territory. Medary was the first county seat of Brookings County for 8...
. The town of Medaryville, Indiana
Medaryville, Indiana
Medaryville is a town in White Post Township, Pulaski County, Indiana, United States. The population was 565 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Medaryville is located at ....
was also named after him. In North Columbus, Ohio (annexed to the city of Columbus in the late 1800s) a street dating back to the early 1900's Medary Avenue was named for him. Because Columbus Public Schools names its schools for the street on which they are located, Medary Elementary School also carried his surname.
Medary was buried at Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.