Samuel Cony, Governor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Cony

Samuel Cony (February 27, 1811 – October 5, 1870) was an American politician, who most notably served as the 31st Governor of Maine from 1864 to 1867.

Early years

Cony was born in Augusta, Maine on February 27, 1811. He studied at the China Academy and Wakefield College. He graduated from Brown University in 1829. He then studied law with Hiram Belcher, of Farmington and also with his uncle, Reuel Williams of Augusta.

Career in law

Cony was admitted to the bar in 1832. He opened an office in Old Town, Maine. He served as a judge of the Probate Court for Penobscot County from 1840 to 1846.

Early Political Career

Cony was originally a Democrat and served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1835 to 1836 from Penobscot County. He also served as a member of the governor's executive council (1839), the land agent for Maine (1847–1850). In 1850 he left Old Town for Augusta when he was appointed state treasurer of Maine (1850–1854). He subsequently became mayor of Augusta (1854). He joined the Republican Party in 1862, which had then become ascendent in Maine politics. He was re-elected to the Maine House of Representatives, now representing a district in Kennebec County, and served for one term.

Governor of Maine

Cony was nominated by the Republican Party as their candidate for governor and was elected governor by a popular vote in 1863. He was elected governor three times. During his administration, troops and provisions were raised for the American Civil War. Maine sent to the front more than 70,000 men. There were issued by the Executive of the State 4,295 commissions, of which number Cony signed about fourteen hundred. Cony notified that he would not accept another nomination in the inaugural address at the opening of the legislature in January, 1866. He left office on January 2, 1867.

Personal life

Cony married twice. He married Mercy H. Sewall on October 17, 1833. She died April 9, 1847. He then married Lucy W. Brooks on November 22, 1849. He had six children. He was a Congregationalist.