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- During the 1876 presidential election, Tilden won the popular vote over his Republican opponent, Rutherford B. Hayes, proving that the Democrats were once again competitive in the American political process following the Civil War. But the result in the Electoral College was in question because the states of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina each sent two sets of Electoral Votes to Congress. (There was separately a conflict over one elector from Oregon, who was disqualified on a technicality.)
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From a farmer’s boy, Samuel Tilden rose to be the most famous lawyer of his day. He was born at New Lebanon, NY February, 1814, and was the fifth of eight children of Elam and Polly Tilden. The boy’s father, although a farmer, was an intimate friend of Martin Van Buren (from Kinderhook, NY), President of the United States from 1837 to 1841, and the Tilden household was much given to discussing political questions relating to him. The elder Mr. Tilden being a great upholder of the politics of his friend. His son Samuel, who early showed himself possessed of a keen, quick mind and clever conversational gifts, also took great interest in public questions. When he was only 18 years old, a manifesto prepared by him was considered worthy of adoption by the state Democratic party. The same year, the young man entered Yale college, but his studies, interrupted by ill health, were finished at the University of New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1841 and at once took an active part in public affairs. Tilden was elected to the New York assembly in 1845 and held numerous other state offices. He was prominent in the contest which finally retired the dishonest Tweed ring in New York City, and in 1874 was elected governor of New York State. In 1876 he was a candidate for the presidency, but Rutherford B. Hayes was declared to be entitled to the presidency by the electoral commission. Although urged to again permit the use of his name as a presidential candidate he declined. His death occurred August 4, 1886, at his county home, Greystone, Westchester County, NY. His fortune of $5,000,000 was left to found a system of free public libraries in New York City. – Fort Wayne Sentinel August 17, 1901
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It will thus be seen that Mr. Tilden’s mental vigor was unimpaired by his long illness. His appetite was good, and he ate a much as most men. He dined regularly with the family, and only differed from them in that he ate at more frequent intervals. He was perfectly able to masticate his food. He rarely ate vegetables, but was fond of fruit. His household consisted, besides himself, of Mr. Andrew H. Green, his life-long friend and chief confidant; George W. Smith, his private secretary and general manager; Miss Anna Gould, and his nieces, Miss Susan and Miss Ruby Tilden, daughters of Henry Tilden. Besides these there were his amanueusis, his valet, Louis Johnannsen; a night nurse, William Davis and ten servants. http://stephentowngenealogy.com/research/tilden/ [1]
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Old Dead Relatives
1814 - 1886 (72 years)
