Schuyler Colfax
Encyclopedia
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. was a United States Representative
from Indiana
(1855–1869), Speaker of the House of Representatives
(1863–1869), and the 17th Vice President of the United States
(1869–1873). To date, he is one of only two Americans (John Nance Garner
in the 20th century being the other) to have served as both House speaker and vice president.
President Ulysses S. Grant
and Colfax, 46 and 45 respectively at the time of their inauguration, were the youngest Presidential team until the inauguration of Bill Clinton
and Al Gore
in 1993.
Colfax was born in New York City
to Schuyler Colfax, Sr. and Hannah Stryker. His grandfather, William Colfax, had served in George Washington
's Life Guard
during the American Revolution
, became a general in the New Jersey
militia
and married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of general Philip Schuyler
.
In 1836, Colfax moved with his mother and stepfather to New Carlisle, Indiana
. As a young man, Colfax contributed articles on Indiana politics to the New York Tribune
and formed a friendship with the editor, Horace Greeley
. He established a reputation as rising young Whig
and at 19 became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend
Free Press. In 1845, Colfax purchased the newspaper and changed its name to the St. Joseph Valley Register.
. The same year, Colfax was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
at DePauw University
, without ever having attended that (or any) university.
and his speech attacking the pro-slavery Lecompton Legislature in Kansas
became the most widely requested Republican campaign document in the election. In 1862, following the electoral defeat of House Speaker Galusha Grow
, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House. During his term as Speaker, he announced the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
in 1865.
Senator Henry Wilson
. Colfax had been involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
and left office under a cloud.
, Colfax, along with Martin of Mississippi and Steel of Tennessee, were appointed to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and report at the 1851 session. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was considered the author and founder.
depot in Mankato, Minnesota
. He had to change trains in Mankato to reach Rock Rapids, Iowa
, going from South Bend via Chicago
for a speaking engagement. Five minutes after arriving at the depot, Colfax died of a heart attack
brought on by the extreme cold and exhaustion.
He was buried in the City Cemetery at South Bend, Indiana
. A historical marker in Mankato in Washington Park, site of the former depot, marks the spot where he died.
; Colfax, Washington
; Colfax, Indiana
; Colfax, Iowa
and Colfax, Louisiana
, are named for Schuyler Colfax. The "Jewel of the Midwest", Schuyler, Nebraska
, named after Colfax, is the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska
. The now ghost town of Colfax, Colorado
, was named after him. Colfax County, New Mexico
, is named after him as well. Colfax, California boasts a bronze statue of Colfax, next to the tracks at the AMTRAK
station.
The main east-west street traversing Aurora
, Denver
and Lakewood, Colorado
, and abutting the Colorado State Capitol
is named "Colfax Avenue
" in the politician's honor. There is another Colfax Avenue in South Bend, Indiana
(a few miles east of his New Carlisle home and adjacent to his burial site); Colfax Place in the Highland Square neighborhood in Akron, Ohio
, in Grant City, Staten Island
; in Minneapolis, Minnesota
; in Roselle Park, New Jersey
; and a Colfax Street on Chicago's North Side. There is a Colfax Street leading up Mt. Colfax in Springdale, Pennsylvania
, by the Post Office and train station in Palatine, Illinois
and a Colfax Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan
, where the school fight song contains the phrase "of that Colfax school" because the high school is located on Colfax. There is also a Colfax Street in Jamestown, New York. There is also a Colfax Avenue in Concord, California
.
There is a Colfax elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a middle school in Wayne, New Jersey. Also in Wayne is the Schuyler-Colfax House
, built by antecendents.
His family now resides in Northern New Jersey, but they no longer own the Colfax museum. They are currently trying to purchase the museum and all of its conents.
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. (icon; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was a United States Representative
from Indiana
(1855–1869), Speaker of the House of Representatives
(1863–1869), and the 17th Vice President of the United States
(1869–1873). To date, he is one of only two Americans (John Nance Garner
in the 20th century being the other) to have served as both House speaker and vice president.
President Ulysses S. Grant
and Colfax, 46 and 45 respectively at the time of their inauguration, were the youngest Presidential team until the inauguration of Bill Clinton
and Al Gore
in 1993.
Colfax was born in New York City
to Schuyler Colfax, Sr. and Hannah Stryker. His grandfather, William Colfax, had served in George Washington
's Life Guard
during the American Revolution
, became a general in the New Jersey
militia
and married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of general Philip Schuyler
.
In 1836, Colfax moved with his mother and stepfather to New Carlisle, Indiana
. As a young man, Colfax contributed articles on Indiana politics to the New York Tribune
and formed a friendship with the editor, Horace Greeley
. He established a reputation as rising young Whig
and at 19 became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend
Free Press. In 1845, Colfax purchased the newspaper and changed its name to the St. Joseph Valley Register.
. The same year, Colfax was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
at DePauw University
, without ever having attended that (or any) university.
and his speech attacking the pro-slavery Lecompton Legislature in Kansas
became the most widely requested Republican campaign document in the election. In 1862, following the electoral defeat of House Speaker Galusha Grow
, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House. During his term as Speaker, he announced the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
in 1865.
Senator Henry Wilson
. Colfax had been involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
and left office under a cloud.
, Colfax, along with Martin of Mississippi and Steel of Tennessee, were appointed to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and report at the 1851 session. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was considered the author and founder.
depot in Mankato, Minnesota
. He had to change trains in Mankato to reach Rock Rapids, Iowa
, going from South Bend via Chicago
for a speaking engagement. Five minutes after arriving at the depot, Colfax died of a heart attack
brought on by the extreme cold and exhaustion.
He was buried in the City Cemetery at South Bend, Indiana
. A historical marker in Mankato in Washington Park, site of the former depot, marks the spot where he died.
; Colfax, Washington
; Colfax, Indiana
; Colfax, Iowa
and Colfax, Louisiana
, are named for Schuyler Colfax. The "Jewel of the Midwest", Schuyler, Nebraska
, named after Colfax, is the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska
. The now ghost town of Colfax, Colorado
, was named after him. Colfax County, New Mexico
, is named after him as well. Colfax, California boasts a bronze statue of Colfax, next to the tracks at the AMTRAK
station.
The main east-west street traversing Aurora
, Denver
and Lakewood, Colorado
, and abutting the Colorado State Capitol
is named "Colfax Avenue
" in the politician's honor. There is another Colfax Avenue in South Bend, Indiana
(a few miles east of his New Carlisle home and adjacent to his burial site); Colfax Place in the Highland Square neighborhood in Akron, Ohio
, in Grant City, Staten Island
; in Minneapolis, Minnesota
; in Roselle Park, New Jersey
; and a Colfax Street on Chicago's North Side. There is a Colfax Street leading up Mt. Colfax in Springdale, Pennsylvania
, by the Post Office and train station in Palatine, Illinois
and a Colfax Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan
, where the school fight song contains the phrase "of that Colfax school" because the high school is located on Colfax. There is also a Colfax Street in Jamestown, New York. There is also a Colfax Avenue in Concord, California
.
There is a Colfax elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a middle school in Wayne, New Jersey. Also in Wayne is the Schuyler-Colfax House
, built by antecendents.
His family now resides in Northern New Jersey, but they no longer own the Colfax museum. They are currently trying to purchase the museum and all of its conents.
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. (icon; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was a United States Representative
from Indiana
(1855–1869), Speaker of the House of Representatives
(1863–1869), and the 17th Vice President of the United States
(1869–1873). To date, he is one of only two Americans (John Nance Garner
in the 20th century being the other) to have served as both House speaker and vice president.
President Ulysses S. Grant
and Colfax, 46 and 45 respectively at the time of their inauguration, were the youngest Presidential team until the inauguration of Bill Clinton
and Al Gore
in 1993.
Colfax was born in New York City
to Schuyler Colfax, Sr. and Hannah Stryker. His grandfather, William Colfax, had served in George Washington
's Life Guard
during the American Revolution
, became a general in the New Jersey
militia
and married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of general Philip Schuyler
.
In 1836, Colfax moved with his mother and stepfather to New Carlisle, Indiana
. As a young man, Colfax contributed articles on Indiana politics to the New York Tribune
and formed a friendship with the editor, Horace Greeley
. He established a reputation as rising young Whig
and at 19 became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend
Free Press. In 1845, Colfax purchased the newspaper and changed its name to the St. Joseph Valley Register.
. The same year, Colfax was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
at DePauw University
, without ever having attended that (or any) university.
and his speech attacking the pro-slavery Lecompton Legislature in Kansas
became the most widely requested Republican campaign document in the election. In 1862, following the electoral defeat of House Speaker Galusha Grow
, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House. During his term as Speaker, he announced the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
in 1865.
Senator Henry Wilson
. Colfax had been involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
and left office under a cloud.
, Colfax, along with Martin of Mississippi and Steel of Tennessee, were appointed to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and report at the 1851 session. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was considered the author and founder.
depot in Mankato, Minnesota
. He had to change trains in Mankato to reach Rock Rapids, Iowa
, going from South Bend via Chicago
for a speaking engagement. Five minutes after arriving at the depot, Colfax died of a heart attack
brought on by the extreme cold and exhaustion.
He was buried in the City Cemetery at South Bend, Indiana
. A historical marker in Mankato in Washington Park, site of the former depot, marks the spot where he died.
; Colfax, Washington
; Colfax, Indiana
; Colfax, Iowa
and Colfax, Louisiana
, are named for Schuyler Colfax. The "Jewel of the Midwest", Schuyler, Nebraska
, named after Colfax, is the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska
. The now ghost town of Colfax, Colorado
, was named after him. Colfax County, New Mexico
, is named after him as well. Colfax, California boasts a bronze statue of Colfax, next to the tracks at the AMTRAK
station.
The main east-west street traversing Aurora
, Denver
and Lakewood, Colorado
, and abutting the Colorado State Capitol
is named "Colfax Avenue
" in the politician's honor. There is another Colfax Avenue in South Bend, Indiana
(a few miles east of his New Carlisle home and adjacent to his burial site); Colfax Place in the Highland Square neighborhood in Akron, Ohio
, in Grant City, Staten Island
; in Minneapolis, Minnesota
; in Roselle Park, New Jersey
; and a Colfax Street on Chicago's North Side. There is a Colfax Street leading up Mt. Colfax in Springdale, Pennsylvania
, by the Post Office and train station in Palatine, Illinois
and a Colfax Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan
, where the school fight song contains the phrase "of that Colfax school" because the high school is located on Colfax. There is also a Colfax Street in Jamestown, New York. There is also a Colfax Avenue in Concord, California
.
There is a Colfax elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a middle school in Wayne, New Jersey. Also in Wayne is the Schuyler-Colfax House
, built by antecendents.
His family now resides in Northern New Jersey, but they no longer own the Colfax museum. They are currently trying to purchase the museum and all of its conents.
|-
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
(1855–1869), Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
(1863–1869), and the 17th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
(1869–1873). To date, he is one of only two Americans (John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
in the 20th century being the other) to have served as both House speaker and vice president.
President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and Colfax, 46 and 45 respectively at the time of their inauguration, were the youngest Presidential team until the inauguration of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
in 1993.
Biography
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Schuyler Colfax, Sr. and Hannah Stryker. His grandfather, William Colfax, had served in George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's Life Guard
Commander-in-Chief's Guard
The Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commonly known as Washington's Life Guard, was a unit of the Continental Army that protected General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Formed in 1776, the Guard was with Washington in all of his battles...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, became a general in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of general Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
.
In 1836, Colfax moved with his mother and stepfather to New Carlisle, Indiana
New Carlisle, Indiana
New Carlisle is a town in suburban St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. It is located in Olive Township. The population was 1,861 at the 2010 Census...
. As a young man, Colfax contributed articles on Indiana politics to the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
and formed a friendship with the editor, Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
. He established a reputation as rising young Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and at 19 became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
Free Press. In 1845, Colfax purchased the newspaper and changed its name to the St. Joseph Valley Register.
Whig Party delegate
Colfax was a delegate to the Whig Party Convention of 1848 and the Indiana Constitutional Convention of 1849. He was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1850. Colfax was nominated for Congress in 1850, but narrowly lost to his Democratic opponent. He ran again two years later, this time successfully, in 1854 as an Anti-Nebraska candidate in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty if they would allow slavery within...
. The same year, Colfax was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
at DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
, without ever having attended that (or any) university.
Republican party
When the Whig Party collapsed, Colfax briefly considered the Know-Nothing Party, but finally joined the new Republican Party that was formed as a fusion of northern Whigs, Anti-Nebraska Act Democrats, Know Nothings, and Free Soilers. After the Republicans gained the majority in the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections of 1858, Colfax became chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. He was an energetic opponent of slaverySlavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and his speech attacking the pro-slavery Lecompton Legislature in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
became the most widely requested Republican campaign document in the election. In 1862, following the electoral defeat of House Speaker Galusha Grow
Galusha A. Grow
Galusha Aaron Grow was a prominent U.S. politician, lawyer, writer and businessman, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863. He was defeated for reelection in 1862...
, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House. During his term as Speaker, he announced the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
in 1865.
Vice Presidency under Ulysses S. Grant
In 1868 Colfax was elected Vice President of the United States on the ticket headed by Ulysses S. Grant. He was inaugurated March 4, 1869, and served until March 4, 1873. Colfax was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination for the vice presidency in 1872 and was replaced by MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Senator Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson was the 18th Vice President of the United States and a Senator from Massachusetts...
. Colfax had been involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
The Crédit Mobilier scandal of 1872 involved the Union Pacific Railroad and the Crédit Mobilier of America construction company in the building of the First Transcontinental Railroad. The distribution of Crédit Mobilier shares of stock by Congressman Oakes Ames along with cash bribes to...
and left office under a cloud.
Personal life
On October 10, 1844, Colfax married childhood friend Evelyn Clark. She died childless in 1863. On November 18, 1868, two weeks after he was elected vice president, Colfax married Ella M. Wade, a niece of Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade. They had one son, Schuyler Colfax III, born in 1870.Founder of Rebekah Degree
As a member of the Independent Order of Odd FellowsIndependent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
, Colfax, along with Martin of Mississippi and Steel of Tennessee, were appointed to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and report at the 1851 session. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was considered the author and founder.
Last years
After leaving office, Colfax embarked on a successful career as a lecturer. On January 13, 1885, he walked about three-quarters of a mile in minus 30˚F weather from the Front Street depot to the OmahaOmaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
depot in Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
. He had to change trains in Mankato to reach Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids is a city in Lyon County in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa, an area known for its strong Dutch heritage and conservative politics. It is the county seat of Lyon County and home to Central Lyon Schools. The population was 2,549 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,573...
, going from South Bend via Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
for a speaking engagement. Five minutes after arriving at the depot, Colfax died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
brought on by the extreme cold and exhaustion.
He was buried in the City Cemetery at South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. A historical marker in Mankato in Washington Park, site of the former depot, marks the spot where he died.
Legacy
The towns of Colfax, CaliforniaColfax, California
Colfax is a city in Placer County, California, at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,963 at the 2010 census...
; Colfax, Washington
Colfax, Washington
Colfax is the county seat of Whitman County, Washington, United States.The population was 2,805 at the 2010 census.It is situated amidst wheat-covered hills in a valley at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Palouse River. U.S...
; Colfax, Indiana
Colfax, Indiana
Colfax is a town in Perry Township, Clinton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 691 at the 2010 census. The town was originally known as Midway since it was a half-way point on the IC&L Railroad between Lafayette and Indianapolis; it was later renamed to honor Vice President...
; Colfax, Iowa
Colfax, Iowa
Colfax is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The town was founded in 1866, and was named for Schuyler Colfax, vice-president with U.S. Grant...
and Colfax, Louisiana
Colfax, Louisiana
Colfax is a town in and the parish seat of Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town, founded in 1869, is named for the vice president of the United States, Schuyler M. Colfax , who served in the first term of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, for whom the parish is named. Colfax is part of...
, are named for Schuyler Colfax. The "Jewel of the Midwest", Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler is a city in Colfax County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,371 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is named after former Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax...
, named after Colfax, is the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska
Colfax County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,441 people, 3,682 households, and 2,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 4,088 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
. The now ghost town of Colfax, Colorado
Colfax, Colorado
Colfax was a short-lived communal farming community — now a ghost town — in Custer County, Colorado, United States. It was named after Vice President Schuyler Colfax.-History:...
, was named after him. Colfax County, New Mexico
Colfax County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*83.8% White*0.5% Black*1.5% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*10.1% Other races*47.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, is named after him as well. Colfax, California boasts a bronze statue of Colfax, next to the tracks at the AMTRAK
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station.
The main east-west street traversing Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
, and abutting the Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
is named "Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue is the main street that runs east–west through the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in Colorado. As U.S. Highway 40, it was one of two principal highways serving Denver before the Interstate Highway System was constructed. In the local street system, it lies 15 blocks north of the zero...
" in the politician's honor. There is another Colfax Avenue in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
(a few miles east of his New Carlisle home and adjacent to his burial site); Colfax Place in the Highland Square neighborhood in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, in Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, New York, USA. The island comprises one of the five boroughs of New York City.-History:...
; in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
; in Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 13,297....
; and a Colfax Street on Chicago's North Side. There is a Colfax Street leading up Mt. Colfax in Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. The population was 3,405 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Springdale is located at ....
, by the Post Office and train station in Palatine, Illinois
Palatine, Illinois
Palatine is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 65,479, making it the sixth-largest community in Cook County and the 16th-largest in the state of Illinois at that time...
and a Colfax Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
, where the school fight song contains the phrase "of that Colfax school" because the high school is located on Colfax. There is also a Colfax Street in Jamestown, New York. There is also a Colfax Avenue in Concord, California
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
.
There is a Colfax elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a middle school in Wayne, New Jersey. Also in Wayne is the Schuyler-Colfax House
Schuyler-Colfax House
The Schuyler-Colfax House, is located in Wayne, New Jersey. The house was built in 1695 by Arent Schuyler and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1973.-See also:*List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey...
, built by antecendents.
His family now resides in Northern New Jersey, but they no longer own the Colfax museum. They are currently trying to purchase the museum and all of its conents.
External links
- Schuyler Colfax's signature on the 1864 joint resolution proposing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery
- Find-A-Grave profile for Schuyler Colfax
- United States Senate: Schuyler Colfax, 17th Vice-President
- Fremont's hundred days in Missouri : speech of Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, in reply to Mr. Blair, of Missouri, delivered in the House of Representatives, March 7, 1862 at archive.org
- The life and public services of Schuyler Colfax: together with his most important speeches at archive.org
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. (icon; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was a United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
(1855–1869), Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
(1863–1869), and the 17th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
(1869–1873). To date, he is one of only two Americans (John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
in the 20th century being the other) to have served as both House speaker and vice president.
President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and Colfax, 46 and 45 respectively at the time of their inauguration, were the youngest Presidential team until the inauguration of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
in 1993.
Biography
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Schuyler Colfax, Sr. and Hannah Stryker. His grandfather, William Colfax, had served in George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's Life Guard
Commander-in-Chief's Guard
The Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commonly known as Washington's Life Guard, was a unit of the Continental Army that protected General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Formed in 1776, the Guard was with Washington in all of his battles...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, became a general in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of general Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
.
In 1836, Colfax moved with his mother and stepfather to New Carlisle, Indiana
New Carlisle, Indiana
New Carlisle is a town in suburban St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. It is located in Olive Township. The population was 1,861 at the 2010 Census...
. As a young man, Colfax contributed articles on Indiana politics to the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
and formed a friendship with the editor, Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
. He established a reputation as rising young Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and at 19 became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
Free Press. In 1845, Colfax purchased the newspaper and changed its name to the St. Joseph Valley Register.
Whig Party delegate
Colfax was a delegate to the Whig Party Convention of 1848 and the Indiana Constitutional Convention of 1849. He was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1850. Colfax was nominated for Congress in 1850, but narrowly lost to his Democratic opponent. He ran again two years later, this time successfully, in 1854 as an Anti-Nebraska candidate in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty if they would allow slavery within...
. The same year, Colfax was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
at DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
, without ever having attended that (or any) university.
Republican party
When the Whig Party collapsed, Colfax briefly considered the Know-Nothing Party, but finally joined the new Republican Party that was formed as a fusion of northern Whigs, Anti-Nebraska Act Democrats, Know Nothings, and Free Soilers. After the Republicans gained the majority in the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections of 1858, Colfax became chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. He was an energetic opponent of slaverySlavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and his speech attacking the pro-slavery Lecompton Legislature in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
became the most widely requested Republican campaign document in the election. In 1862, following the electoral defeat of House Speaker Galusha Grow
Galusha A. Grow
Galusha Aaron Grow was a prominent U.S. politician, lawyer, writer and businessman, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863. He was defeated for reelection in 1862...
, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House. During his term as Speaker, he announced the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
in 1865.
Vice Presidency under Ulysses S. Grant
In 1868 Colfax was elected Vice President of the United States on the ticket headed by Ulysses S. Grant. He was inaugurated March 4, 1869, and served until March 4, 1873. Colfax was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination for the vice presidency in 1872 and was replaced by MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Senator Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson was the 18th Vice President of the United States and a Senator from Massachusetts...
. Colfax had been involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
The Crédit Mobilier scandal of 1872 involved the Union Pacific Railroad and the Crédit Mobilier of America construction company in the building of the First Transcontinental Railroad. The distribution of Crédit Mobilier shares of stock by Congressman Oakes Ames along with cash bribes to...
and left office under a cloud.
Personal life
On October 10, 1844, Colfax married childhood friend Evelyn Clark. She died childless in 1863. On November 18, 1868, two weeks after he was elected vice president, Colfax married Ella M. Wade, a niece of Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade. They had one son, Schuyler Colfax III, born in 1870.Founder of Rebekah Degree
As a member of the Independent Order of Odd FellowsIndependent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
, Colfax, along with Martin of Mississippi and Steel of Tennessee, were appointed to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and report at the 1851 session. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was considered the author and founder.
Last years
After leaving office, Colfax embarked on a successful career as a lecturer. On January 13, 1885, he walked about three-quarters of a mile in minus 30˚F weather from the Front Street depot to the OmahaOmaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
depot in Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
. He had to change trains in Mankato to reach Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids is a city in Lyon County in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa, an area known for its strong Dutch heritage and conservative politics. It is the county seat of Lyon County and home to Central Lyon Schools. The population was 2,549 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,573...
, going from South Bend via Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
for a speaking engagement. Five minutes after arriving at the depot, Colfax died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
brought on by the extreme cold and exhaustion.
He was buried in the City Cemetery at South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. A historical marker in Mankato in Washington Park, site of the former depot, marks the spot where he died.
Legacy
The towns of Colfax, CaliforniaColfax, California
Colfax is a city in Placer County, California, at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,963 at the 2010 census...
; Colfax, Washington
Colfax, Washington
Colfax is the county seat of Whitman County, Washington, United States.The population was 2,805 at the 2010 census.It is situated amidst wheat-covered hills in a valley at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Palouse River. U.S...
; Colfax, Indiana
Colfax, Indiana
Colfax is a town in Perry Township, Clinton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 691 at the 2010 census. The town was originally known as Midway since it was a half-way point on the IC&L Railroad between Lafayette and Indianapolis; it was later renamed to honor Vice President...
; Colfax, Iowa
Colfax, Iowa
Colfax is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The town was founded in 1866, and was named for Schuyler Colfax, vice-president with U.S. Grant...
and Colfax, Louisiana
Colfax, Louisiana
Colfax is a town in and the parish seat of Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town, founded in 1869, is named for the vice president of the United States, Schuyler M. Colfax , who served in the first term of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, for whom the parish is named. Colfax is part of...
, are named for Schuyler Colfax. The "Jewel of the Midwest", Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler is a city in Colfax County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,371 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is named after former Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax...
, named after Colfax, is the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska
Colfax County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,441 people, 3,682 households, and 2,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 4,088 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
. The now ghost town of Colfax, Colorado
Colfax, Colorado
Colfax was a short-lived communal farming community — now a ghost town — in Custer County, Colorado, United States. It was named after Vice President Schuyler Colfax.-History:...
, was named after him. Colfax County, New Mexico
Colfax County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*83.8% White*0.5% Black*1.5% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*10.1% Other races*47.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, is named after him as well. Colfax, California boasts a bronze statue of Colfax, next to the tracks at the AMTRAK
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station.
The main east-west street traversing Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
, and abutting the Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
is named "Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue is the main street that runs east–west through the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in Colorado. As U.S. Highway 40, it was one of two principal highways serving Denver before the Interstate Highway System was constructed. In the local street system, it lies 15 blocks north of the zero...
" in the politician's honor. There is another Colfax Avenue in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
(a few miles east of his New Carlisle home and adjacent to his burial site); Colfax Place in the Highland Square neighborhood in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, in Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, New York, USA. The island comprises one of the five boroughs of New York City.-History:...
; in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
; in Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 13,297....
; and a Colfax Street on Chicago's North Side. There is a Colfax Street leading up Mt. Colfax in Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. The population was 3,405 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Springdale is located at ....
, by the Post Office and train station in Palatine, Illinois
Palatine, Illinois
Palatine is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 65,479, making it the sixth-largest community in Cook County and the 16th-largest in the state of Illinois at that time...
and a Colfax Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
, where the school fight song contains the phrase "of that Colfax school" because the high school is located on Colfax. There is also a Colfax Street in Jamestown, New York. There is also a Colfax Avenue in Concord, California
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
.
There is a Colfax elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a middle school in Wayne, New Jersey. Also in Wayne is the Schuyler-Colfax House
Schuyler-Colfax House
The Schuyler-Colfax House, is located in Wayne, New Jersey. The house was built in 1695 by Arent Schuyler and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1973.-See also:*List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey...
, built by antecendents.
His family now resides in Northern New Jersey, but they no longer own the Colfax museum. They are currently trying to purchase the museum and all of its conents.
External links
- Schuyler Colfax's signature on the 1864 joint resolution proposing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery
- Find-A-Grave profile for Schuyler Colfax
- United States Senate: Schuyler Colfax, 17th Vice-President
- Fremont's hundred days in Missouri : speech of Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, in reply to Mr. Blair, of Missouri, delivered in the House of Representatives, March 7, 1862 at archive.org
- The life and public services of Schuyler Colfax: together with his most important speeches at archive.org
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. (icon; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was a United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
(1855–1869), Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
(1863–1869), and the 17th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
(1869–1873). To date, he is one of only two Americans (John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
in the 20th century being the other) to have served as both House speaker and vice president.
President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
and Colfax, 46 and 45 respectively at the time of their inauguration, were the youngest Presidential team until the inauguration of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
in 1993.
Biography
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Schuyler Colfax, Sr. and Hannah Stryker. His grandfather, William Colfax, had served in George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's Life Guard
Commander-in-Chief's Guard
The Commander-in-Chief's Guard, commonly known as Washington's Life Guard, was a unit of the Continental Army that protected General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Formed in 1776, the Guard was with Washington in all of his battles...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, became a general in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and married Hester Schuyler, a cousin of general Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
.
In 1836, Colfax moved with his mother and stepfather to New Carlisle, Indiana
New Carlisle, Indiana
New Carlisle is a town in suburban St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. It is located in Olive Township. The population was 1,861 at the 2010 Census...
. As a young man, Colfax contributed articles on Indiana politics to the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
and formed a friendship with the editor, Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
. He established a reputation as rising young Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and at 19 became the editor of the pro-Whig South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
Free Press. In 1845, Colfax purchased the newspaper and changed its name to the St. Joseph Valley Register.
Whig Party delegate
Colfax was a delegate to the Whig Party Convention of 1848 and the Indiana Constitutional Convention of 1849. He was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1850. Colfax was nominated for Congress in 1850, but narrowly lost to his Democratic opponent. He ran again two years later, this time successfully, in 1854 as an Anti-Nebraska candidate in opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska ActKansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories to determine through Popular Sovereignty if they would allow slavery within...
. The same year, Colfax was initiated as a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
at DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
, without ever having attended that (or any) university.
Republican party
When the Whig Party collapsed, Colfax briefly considered the Know-Nothing Party, but finally joined the new Republican Party that was formed as a fusion of northern Whigs, Anti-Nebraska Act Democrats, Know Nothings, and Free Soilers. After the Republicans gained the majority in the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections of 1858, Colfax became chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. He was an energetic opponent of slaverySlavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and his speech attacking the pro-slavery Lecompton Legislature in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
became the most widely requested Republican campaign document in the election. In 1862, following the electoral defeat of House Speaker Galusha Grow
Galusha A. Grow
Galusha Aaron Grow was a prominent U.S. politician, lawyer, writer and businessman, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863. He was defeated for reelection in 1862...
, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House. During his term as Speaker, he announced the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
in 1865.
Vice Presidency under Ulysses S. Grant
In 1868 Colfax was elected Vice President of the United States on the ticket headed by Ulysses S. Grant. He was inaugurated March 4, 1869, and served until March 4, 1873. Colfax was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination for the vice presidency in 1872 and was replaced by MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Senator Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson
Henry Wilson was the 18th Vice President of the United States and a Senator from Massachusetts...
. Colfax had been involved in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
Crédit Mobilier of America scandal
The Crédit Mobilier scandal of 1872 involved the Union Pacific Railroad and the Crédit Mobilier of America construction company in the building of the First Transcontinental Railroad. The distribution of Crédit Mobilier shares of stock by Congressman Oakes Ames along with cash bribes to...
and left office under a cloud.
Personal life
On October 10, 1844, Colfax married childhood friend Evelyn Clark. She died childless in 1863. On November 18, 1868, two weeks after he was elected vice president, Colfax married Ella M. Wade, a niece of Senator Benjamin Franklin Wade. They had one son, Schuyler Colfax III, born in 1870.Founder of Rebekah Degree
As a member of the Independent Order of Odd FellowsIndependent Order of Odd Fellows
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows , also known as the Three Link Fraternity, is an altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization derived from the similar British Oddfellows service organizations which came into being during the 18th century, at a time when altruistic and charitable acts were...
, Colfax, along with Martin of Mississippi and Steel of Tennessee, were appointed to prepare a Ritual of ceremonies pertaining to the Rebekah Degree and report at the 1851 session. On September 20, 1851, the IOOF approved the degree and Colfax was considered the author and founder.
Last years
After leaving office, Colfax embarked on a successful career as a lecturer. On January 13, 1885, he walked about three-quarters of a mile in minus 30˚F weather from the Front Street depot to the OmahaOmaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
depot in Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
. He had to change trains in Mankato to reach Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Rock Rapids is a city in Lyon County in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa, an area known for its strong Dutch heritage and conservative politics. It is the county seat of Lyon County and home to Central Lyon Schools. The population was 2,549 in the 2010 census, a decline from 2,573...
, going from South Bend via Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
for a speaking engagement. Five minutes after arriving at the depot, Colfax died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
brought on by the extreme cold and exhaustion.
He was buried in the City Cemetery at South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. A historical marker in Mankato in Washington Park, site of the former depot, marks the spot where he died.
Legacy
The towns of Colfax, CaliforniaColfax, California
Colfax is a city in Placer County, California, at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and State Route 174. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,963 at the 2010 census...
; Colfax, Washington
Colfax, Washington
Colfax is the county seat of Whitman County, Washington, United States.The population was 2,805 at the 2010 census.It is situated amidst wheat-covered hills in a valley at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Palouse River. U.S...
; Colfax, Indiana
Colfax, Indiana
Colfax is a town in Perry Township, Clinton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 691 at the 2010 census. The town was originally known as Midway since it was a half-way point on the IC&L Railroad between Lafayette and Indianapolis; it was later renamed to honor Vice President...
; Colfax, Iowa
Colfax, Iowa
Colfax is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The town was founded in 1866, and was named for Schuyler Colfax, vice-president with U.S. Grant...
and Colfax, Louisiana
Colfax, Louisiana
Colfax is a town in and the parish seat of Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town, founded in 1869, is named for the vice president of the United States, Schuyler M. Colfax , who served in the first term of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, for whom the parish is named. Colfax is part of...
, are named for Schuyler Colfax. The "Jewel of the Midwest", Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler, Nebraska
Schuyler is a city in Colfax County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 5,371 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colfax County. The city is named after former Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax...
, named after Colfax, is the county seat of Colfax County, Nebraska
Colfax County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,441 people, 3,682 households, and 2,592 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 4,088 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
. The now ghost town of Colfax, Colorado
Colfax, Colorado
Colfax was a short-lived communal farming community — now a ghost town — in Custer County, Colorado, United States. It was named after Vice President Schuyler Colfax.-History:...
, was named after him. Colfax County, New Mexico
Colfax County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*83.8% White*0.5% Black*1.5% Native American*0.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*10.1% Other races*47.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, is named after him as well. Colfax, California boasts a bronze statue of Colfax, next to the tracks at the AMTRAK
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station.
The main east-west street traversing Aurora
Aurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
, and abutting the Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. The building is intentionally reminiscent of the United States Capitol. Designed...
is named "Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue
Colfax Avenue is the main street that runs east–west through the Denver-Aurora metropolitan area in Colorado. As U.S. Highway 40, it was one of two principal highways serving Denver before the Interstate Highway System was constructed. In the local street system, it lies 15 blocks north of the zero...
" in the politician's honor. There is another Colfax Avenue in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
(a few miles east of his New Carlisle home and adjacent to his burial site); Colfax Place in the Highland Square neighborhood in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, in Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City, Staten Island
Grant City is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, New York, USA. The island comprises one of the five boroughs of New York City.-History:...
; in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
; in Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Roselle Park is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 13,297....
; and a Colfax Street on Chicago's North Side. There is a Colfax Street leading up Mt. Colfax in Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale, Pennsylvania
Springdale is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River. The population was 3,405 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Springdale is located at ....
, by the Post Office and train station in Palatine, Illinois
Palatine, Illinois
Palatine is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a northwestern residential suburb of Chicago. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 65,479, making it the sixth-largest community in Cook County and the 16th-largest in the state of Illinois at that time...
and a Colfax Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan which is located west of Kalamazoo. The population was 10,038 at the 2010 census. It is the lesser populated of the two principal cities included in the Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a...
, where the school fight song contains the phrase "of that Colfax school" because the high school is located on Colfax. There is also a Colfax Street in Jamestown, New York. There is also a Colfax Avenue in Concord, California
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
.
There is a Colfax elementary school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a middle school in Wayne, New Jersey. Also in Wayne is the Schuyler-Colfax House
Schuyler-Colfax House
The Schuyler-Colfax House, is located in Wayne, New Jersey. The house was built in 1695 by Arent Schuyler and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1973.-See also:*List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey...
, built by antecendents.
His family now resides in Northern New Jersey, but they no longer own the Colfax museum. They are currently trying to purchase the museum and all of its conents.
External links
- Schuyler Colfax's signature on the 1864 joint resolution proposing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery
- Find-A-Grave profile for Schuyler Colfax
- United States Senate: Schuyler Colfax, 17th Vice-President
- Fremont's hundred days in Missouri : speech of Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, in reply to Mr. Blair, of Missouri, delivered in the House of Representatives, March 7, 1862 at archive.org
- The life and public services of Schuyler Colfax: together with his most important speeches at archive.org
|-