Alexander Hamilton Coffroth
Encyclopedia
Alexander Hamilton Coffroth (May 18, 1828 – September 2, 1906) was a Democratic
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
Alexander H. Coffroth was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania
. He attended the public schools and Somerset Academy. He published a Democratic paper in Somerset for five years. He studied law in the law office of Hon. Jeremiah S. Black
, was admitted to the bar in February 1851 at Somerset, where he practiced his profession. He was a delegate to several Democratic State conventions, as well as a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
s which assembled in Charleston, South Carolina
, and Baltimore, Maryland. He served as an assessor of internal revenue in 1867, and was a delegate to the 1872 Democratic National Convention.
Coffroth was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-eighth
Congress. During his term in the Thirty-eighth
Congress, he supported the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
, along with some other Democrats, such as Archibald McAllister
. He claimed reelection to the Thirty-ninth
Congress, was seated on February 19, 1866, and served until July 18, 1866, when he was succeeded by William H. Koontz, who contested the election. He was again elected to the Forty-sixth
Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions
during the Forty-sixth Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1880. He resumed the practice of law in Somerset and died in Markleton, Pennsylvania, in 1906. Interment in Union Cemetery in Somerset.
Coffroth was the last surviving pallbearer who had served at the funeral of President Abraham Lincoln
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Alexander H. Coffroth was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania
Somerset, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,762 people, 3,035 households, and 1,717 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,466.0 people per square mile . There were 3,313 housing units at an average density of 1,208.2 per square mile...
. He attended the public schools and Somerset Academy. He published a Democratic paper in Somerset for five years. He studied law in the law office of Hon. Jeremiah S. Black
Jeremiah S. Black
Jeremiah Sullivan Black was an American statesman and lawyer. He was the son of Representative Henry Black, and the father of writer and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Chauncey Forward Black....
, was admitted to the bar in February 1851 at Somerset, where he practiced his profession. He was a delegate to several Democratic State conventions, as well as a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention
1860 Democratic National Convention
The 1860 Democratic National Convention was one of the crucial events in the lead-up to the American Civil War. Following a fragmented official Democratic National Convention that was adjourned in deadlock, two more presidential nominating conventions took place: a resumed official convention,...
s which assembled in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and Baltimore, Maryland. He served as an assessor of internal revenue in 1867, and was a delegate to the 1872 Democratic National Convention.
Coffroth was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-eighth
38th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Before this Congress, the 1860 United States Census and resulting reapportionment changed the size of the House to 241 members...
Congress. During his term in the Thirty-eighth
38th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Before this Congress, the 1860 United States Census and resulting reapportionment changed the size of the House to 241 members...
Congress, he supported the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
, along with some other Democrats, such as Archibald McAllister
Archibald McAllister
Archibald McAllister was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Archibald McAllister was born at Fort Hunter, Pennsylvania, near present day Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He attended the common schools and Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania...
. He claimed reelection to the Thirty-ninth
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
Congress, was seated on February 19, 1866, and served until July 18, 1866, when he was succeeded by William H. Koontz, who contested the election. He was again elected to the Forty-sixth
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions
United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions
The United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions is a former committee of the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1946.The committee was created on January 10, 1831 with jurisdiction over matters relating to pensions for disabled veterans. Originally, the jurisdiction of the...
during the Forty-sixth Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1880. He resumed the practice of law in Somerset and died in Markleton, Pennsylvania, in 1906. Interment in Union Cemetery in Somerset.
Coffroth was the last surviving pallbearer who had served at the funeral of President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.