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William Wade Dudley

William Wade Dudley (August 27, 1842 – December 15, 1909) was an American lawyer, politician, and Union Army officer in the American Civil War. He was United States Commissioner of Pensions under presidents James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur, and was Treasurer of the Republican National Committee. He was wounded and lost his leg at Gettysburg.

William W. Dudley
13th United States Commissioner of Pensions
In office
June 27, 1881 – November 15, 1884
PresidentJames A. Garfield
Chester A. Arthur
Preceded byJohn A. Bentley
Succeeded byOtis P. G. Clarke
United States Marshal for the District of Indiana
In office
1879–1881
PresidentRutherford B. Hayes
Personal details
Born
William Wade Dudley

(1842-08-27)August 27, 1842
Weathersfield Bow, Vermont, U.S.
DiedDecember 15, 1909(1909-12-15) (aged 67)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Theresa Fiske
  • (m. 1864; died 1897)
  • Nannie A. Robinson
  • (died 1949)
Children
  • George Fiske Dudley
  • (b. 1866; 1940)
  • William Northrup Dudley
  • (b. 1869; 1920)
  • Charles Tarbell Dudley
  • (b. 1878; 1908)
  • Frances Therese (Dill)
  • (b. 1880; 1920)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Union Army
Years of service1862–1865
Rank
Unit19th Ind. Vol. Infantry Reg.
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early life edit

William Wade Dudley was born in Weathersfield Bow, Vermont, the son of Reverend John Dudley, a well-known Congregational minister whose sermons were widely reprinted.[1] Reverend Wade was a graduate of Yale Seminary, a sometime missionary to the Choctaw Indians, and a descendant of William Dudley, one of the earliest settlers of Guilford, Connecticut, in 1639.[2][3] Dudley's mother was Abigail Wade, a granddaughter of Col. Nathaniel Wade, a staff officer to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Civil War and following edit

After studying at Phillips Academy, Danville, in Vermont, and at Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut, he joined the Union Army as captain of the Richmond City Greys—volunteers for service in the American Civil War. Dudley's company was incorporated into the 19th Indiana Volunteer Regiment of the famed Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.[4] At age 19, at the Battle of Antietam, he took command of the regiment after the death of Lieutenant Colonel Alois O. Bachman. Following the battle, Dudley was quickly promoted to Major (September 18, 1862), and then Lieutenant Colonel (October 6, 1862).

After losing 79 percent of his men at the Battle of Gettysburg, and having his right leg amputated on the field, he served as an army inspector and judge advocate and captain in the Veteran Reserve Corps. For gallantry in battle, he was awarded an honorary brevet to Brigadier General of Volunteers on March 13, 1865.

Following the end of the war he became a civilian lawyer in 1870, then the U.S. marshal for Indiana in 1879, commissioner of pensions under appointment of Presidents James Garfield and Chester A. Arthur in 1881. In 1888 he was appointed Treasurer of the Republican National Committee. He returned to practicing law in 1887.

1888 election controversy edit

In 1888 having been made Treasurer of the Republican National Committee, Dudley was involved in the 1888 elections and one of the most intense political campaigns in decades, with Indiana dead even between the Democratic incumbent President, Grover Cleveland, and the Republican challenger, Benjamin Harrison.

Although this job did not strictly involve him in state politics, Dudley wrote a circular letter to Indiana's county chairmen, telling them to "Divide the floaters into blocs of five, and put a trusted man with the necessary funds in charge of these five, and make them responsible that none get away and that all vote our ticket," and promising adequate funding for this.

Unfortunately for the Republicans, the Democrats managed to get hold of the letter and they distributed hundreds of thousands of copies in the last days of the campaign. Given Dudley's unsavory reputation, few people believed his denials.

The attack on "blocs of five" with the suggestion that pious General Benjamin Harrison was trying to buy the election enlivened the Democratic campaign and stimulated the nationwide movement to replace ballots printed and distributed by the parties with the secret "Australian ballot". Benjamin Harrison's electoral votes topped Cleveland's to win the election. However, Dudley's reputation was destroyed, and he ultimately retired.

Personal life and death edit

Wade married his first wife, Theresa Fiske, in 1864, and they had four children together. After his wife's death in 1897, he married Nannie A. Robinson and they stayed married until Dudley's death. She died in 1949.

On December 15, 1909, William Wade Dudley died of natural causes in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery a few days afterward.[5][6]

References edit

  1. ^ Gilman, Marcus Davis (1897). The Bibliography of Vermont. Free Press Association. p. 77.
  2. ^ Dudley Farm, owned by the Dudley family for 350 years, North Guilford, Ct.
  3. ^ Rierden, Andi (October 29, 1989). "The View From: Dudleytown; A Hamlet That Can't Get Rid of Its Ghosts". The New York Times. p. CN12. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Brown, John Howard (1900). Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States: Chubb-Erich. James H. Lamb Company. p. 537.
  5. ^ "Gen. Dudley Dead". The Washington Star. December 16, 1909. p. 13. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Burial detail: Dudley, Nannie R". ANC Explorer. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  • The Winning of the Midwest, 1888-1896 (1971) Richard Jensen ISBN 0-226-39825-0
  • WADE-L Archives RootsWeb

william, wade, dudley, august, 1842, december, 1909, american, lawyer, politician, union, army, officer, american, civil, united, states, commissioner, pensions, under, presidents, james, garfield, chester, arthur, treasurer, republican, national, committee, w. William Wade Dudley August 27 1842 December 15 1909 was an American lawyer politician and Union Army officer in the American Civil War He was United States Commissioner of Pensions under presidents James A Garfield and Chester A Arthur and was Treasurer of the Republican National Committee He was wounded and lost his leg at Gettysburg William W Dudley13th United States Commissioner of PensionsIn office June 27 1881 November 15 1884PresidentJames A GarfieldChester A ArthurPreceded byJohn A BentleySucceeded byOtis P G ClarkeUnited States Marshal for the District of IndianaIn office 1879 1881PresidentRutherford B HayesPersonal detailsBornWilliam Wade Dudley 1842 08 27 August 27 1842Weathersfield Bow Vermont U S DiedDecember 15 1909 1909 12 15 aged 67 Washington D C U S Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington VirginiaPolitical partyRepublicanSpousesTheresa Fiske m 1864 died 1897 Nannie A Robinson died 1949 ChildrenGeorge Fiske Dudley b 1866 1940 William Northrup Dudley b 1869 1920 Charles Tarbell Dudley b 1878 1908 Frances Therese Dill b 1880 1920 SignatureMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch service United States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1862 1865RankLt Colonel USVBrevet Brig Gen USVUnit19th Ind Vol Infantry Reg Battles warsAmerican Civil War Maryland campaign Battle of Antietam Fredericksburg campaign Battle of Fredericksburg Mud March Chancellorsville campaign Battle of Chancellorsville Gettysburg campaign Battle of Gettysburg Contents 1 Early life 2 Civil War and following 3 1888 election controversy 4 Personal life and death 5 ReferencesEarly life editWilliam Wade Dudley was born in Weathersfield Bow Vermont the son of Reverend John Dudley a well known Congregational minister whose sermons were widely reprinted 1 Reverend Wade was a graduate of Yale Seminary a sometime missionary to the Choctaw Indians and a descendant of William Dudley one of the earliest settlers of Guilford Connecticut in 1639 2 3 Dudley s mother was Abigail Wade a granddaughter of Col Nathaniel Wade a staff officer to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War Civil War and following editAfter studying at Phillips Academy Danville in Vermont and at Russell Military Academy in New Haven Connecticut he joined the Union Army as captain of the Richmond City Greys volunteers for service in the American Civil War Dudley s company was incorporated into the 19th Indiana Volunteer Regiment of the famed Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac 4 At age 19 at the Battle of Antietam he took command of the regiment after the death of Lieutenant Colonel Alois O Bachman Following the battle Dudley was quickly promoted to Major September 18 1862 and then Lieutenant Colonel October 6 1862 After losing 79 percent of his men at the Battle of Gettysburg and having his right leg amputated on the field he served as an army inspector and judge advocate and captain in the Veteran Reserve Corps For gallantry in battle he was awarded an honorary brevet to Brigadier General of Volunteers on March 13 1865 Following the end of the war he became a civilian lawyer in 1870 then the U S marshal for Indiana in 1879 commissioner of pensions under appointment of Presidents James Garfield and Chester A Arthur in 1881 In 1888 he was appointed Treasurer of the Republican National Committee He returned to practicing law in 1887 1888 election controversy editIn 1888 having been made Treasurer of the Republican National Committee Dudley was involved in the 1888 elections and one of the most intense political campaigns in decades with Indiana dead even between the Democratic incumbent President Grover Cleveland and the Republican challenger Benjamin Harrison Although this job did not strictly involve him in state politics Dudley wrote a circular letter to Indiana s county chairmen telling them to Divide the floaters into blocs of five and put a trusted man with the necessary funds in charge of these five and make them responsible that none get away and that all vote our ticket and promising adequate funding for this Unfortunately for the Republicans the Democrats managed to get hold of the letter and they distributed hundreds of thousands of copies in the last days of the campaign Given Dudley s unsavory reputation few people believed his denials The attack on blocs of five with the suggestion that pious General Benjamin Harrison was trying to buy the election enlivened the Democratic campaign and stimulated the nationwide movement to replace ballots printed and distributed by the parties with the secret Australian ballot Benjamin Harrison s electoral votes topped Cleveland s to win the election However Dudley s reputation was destroyed and he ultimately retired Personal life and death editWade married his first wife Theresa Fiske in 1864 and they had four children together After his wife s death in 1897 he married Nannie A Robinson and they stayed married until Dudley s death She died in 1949 On December 15 1909 William Wade Dudley died of natural causes in Washington D C and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery a few days afterward 5 6 References edit Gilman Marcus Davis 1897 The Bibliography of Vermont Free Press Association p 77 Dudley Farm owned by the Dudley family for 350 years North Guilford Ct Rierden Andi October 29 1989 The View From Dudleytown A Hamlet That Can t Get Rid of Its Ghosts The New York Times p CN12 Retrieved May 5 2021 Brown John Howard 1900 Lamb s Biographical Dictionary of the United States Chubb Erich James H Lamb Company p 537 Gen Dudley Dead The Washington Star December 16 1909 p 13 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Burial detail Dudley Nannie R ANC Explorer Retrieved November 12 2023 The Winning of the Midwest 1888 1896 1971 Richard Jensen ISBN 0 226 39825 0 WADE L Archives RootsWeb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Wade Dudley amp oldid 1214602029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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