Henry Waldron (October 11, 1819 – September 13, 1880) was an American politician and a United States Representative from the U.S. state of Michigan.

Henry Waldron
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Preceded byWilliam L. Stoughton
Succeeded byEdwin Willits
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Preceded byFernando C. Beaman
Succeeded byMoses W. Field
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byDavid A. Noble
Succeeded byFernando C. Beaman
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the Hillsdale County district
In office
1843
Personal details
Born(1819-10-11)October 11, 1819
Albany, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 13, 1880(1880-09-13) (aged 60)
Hilsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan, U.S.
Resting placeOak Grove Cemetery
Hillsdale, Michigan
CitizenshipUS
Political partyRepublican
Alma materRutgers College
New Brunswick, New Jersey
ProfessionCivil Engineer
Politician

Early life

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Waldron was born in Albany, New York, attended Albany Academy, and graduated from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1836. He moved to Michigan in 1837 and was employed as a civil engineer in railroad work. In 1839 Waldron settled in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Career

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Waldron became a member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1843, where he represented the Hillsdale County district,[1] and was a director of the Michigan Southern Railroad, serving from 1846 to 1848. He was active in promoting the construction of the Detroit, Hillsdale and South Western Railroad and served as its first president. He was a presidential elector on the Whig Party ticket in 1848.

In 1854, he defeated incumbent Democrat David A. Noble to be elected as a Republican from Michigan's 2nd congressional district to the Thirty-fourth Congress. He was re-elected to the Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1855 to March 3, 1861. He was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury in the Thirty-fourth Congress.[2] He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1860.

In 1870, he was elected to represent Michigan's 1st congressional district to the Forty-second Congress and subsequently re-elected to represent Michigan's 2nd district to the Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1871 to March 3, 1877. He was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining in the Forty-second Congress.[3] He declined to be a candidate for re-nomination.

In 1876, Waldron was elected president of the First National Bank of Hillsdale and served until his death.

Death and legacy

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Waldron died in Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan, on September 13, 1880 (age 60 years, 338 days). He is interred at Oak Grove Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan.

The village of Waldron, Michigan is named in his honour because of his contribution to the village. [1].

References

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  1. ^ "Legislator Details - Henry Waldron". Library of Michigan. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Legislative Manual and Official Directory of the State of Michigan. Secretary of State, 1885 - Michigan. 1885. p. 326.
  3. ^ HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY MICHIGAN. Monroe County, Michigan. 1890. p. 255. Henry Waldron.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by United States Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Michigan
1855–1861
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Representative for the 1st Congressional District of Michigan
1871–1873
Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Michigan
1873–1877
Succeeded by