Thaddeus E. Cromley (21 June 1843 – 20 April 1921) was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in both houses of the Ohio Legislature, holding a leadership position in the Ohio State Senate during the nineteenth century.

Thaddeus E. Cromley
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 10th district
In office
January 6, 1896 – December 31, 1899
Serving with Nial R. Hysell (1896-98)
John C. L. Pugh (1898-1900)
Preceded byMoses B. Earnhart
Succeeded byEdward D. Howard
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the Pickaway district
In office
January 2, 1888 – January 3, 1892
Preceded byWesley Work
Succeeded byDaniel Haas
Personal details
Born(1843-06-21)June 21, 1843
Pickaway County, Ohio
DiedApril 20, 1921(1921-04-20) (aged 77)
Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio
Resting placeForest Cemetery
Circleville, Ohio
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Rebecca Millar
Childreneight
Alma materKenyon College
(A.B. 1865) (A.M. 1868)

Thaddeus Cromley descended from German immigrants named Grammlich, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1749. The name was eventually anglicized to Cromley. He was born on his father's Pickaway County, Ohio farm on June 21, 1843. His parents were William and Sarah E. (Staige) Cromley.[1] He attended the local log schoolhouse, and he studied at Circleville Union School beginning at age 16. He entered Kenyon College in 1861 and graduated with an A.B. in 1865 and an A.M. three years later. He became a farmer and stock raiser.[2]

Cromley served as a township trustee and member of the Board of Education.[3] He was elected as a Democrat to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1887 by a plurality of 1,116 votes, and was re-elected in 1889 by a plurality of 1,090 votes.[2] In 1890, he was the nominee for Ohio Secretary of State, but lost to Republican Daniel J. Ryan.[4]

In 1892, Cromley was appointed by Governor McKinley as a trustee of the Boy's Industrial School in Fairfield County. He held that position until 1896.[2] In 1895 he was elected to the Ohio State Senate from the tenth district (Franklin and Pickaway counties) with a plurality of 961 votes, and was re-elected in 1897 by 2,373 votes. In the latter term he was President Pro Tempore and chairman of the Committees on Finance and Rules.[3]

In 1900, Cromley was elected to the State Board of Agriculture, and he was re-elected in 1905.[2] He was married to Mary Rebecca Millar of Pickaway County on October 6, 1870. They had eight children.[5] He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Chi Phi and Phi Beta Kappa.[5] Cromley died at his Walnut Township home on April 17, 1921. He was interred at Forest Cemetery in Circleville.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Van Cleef, p. 375.
  2. ^ a b c d Van Cleef, p. 376.
  3. ^ a b Heer, p. 312.
  4. ^ Smith, p. 592.
  5. ^ a b Van Cleef, p. 377.
  6. ^ Death Record.

References

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  • Van Cleef, Aaron R. (1906). History of Pickaway County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company.
  • Manual of Legislative Practice in the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. Columbus: F J Heer. 1898. p. 312.
  • Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. Vol. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company. p. 32.
  • "Ohio Death Records 1908-1953 - Thaddeus Edward Cromley, reference cn 23753; FHL microfilm 1991591". Family Search. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
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Ohio Senate
Preceded by President of the Ohio Senate
1898-1899
Succeeded by
Ohio House of Representatives
Preceded by
Wesley Work
Representative from Pickaway County
1888-1891
Succeeded by
Daniel Haas