Algernon Sidney Paddock was an American politician who served as a Republican secretary of Nebraska Territory

Nebraska Territory

The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...

 and U.S. Senator from Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

 after statehood.

Biography

Paddock was born in Glens Falls, New York

Glens Falls, New York

Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...

. His father, Ira Paddock, was a prominent lawyer. Algernon lived in upstate New York until the age of 27, attending Glens Falls Academy and Union College

Union College

Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...

, teaching school and studying law. He visited a brother in Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...

 for three months after college, but then returned to New York.

Settling in Omaha

In 1857, Paddock left New York and settled in Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...

, where he started a farm and a law practice. He became an important member of the community, immediately entering politics as a member of the United States Republican Party in which he would be active for the rest of his life. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Nebraska Territory

Nebraska Territory

The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...

 house of representatives in 1858. He helped edit the newspaper "Nebraska Republican" from 1858 to 1859. He attended a territorial convention in 1859 and the Republican Convention as a delegate in 1860. In 1860 he campaigned heavily for 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...

 in Nebraska and New York.

In 1861, Paddock was appointed by Lincoln as secretary of the Nebraska Territory. He held that position until Nebraska became a state in 1867; he also served as acting governor in 1861. When Nebraska became a state, he ran for seats in both the United States House and United States Senate, but lost. President Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...

 offered him the position of governor of Wyoming Territory

Wyoming Territory

The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...

, but Paddock declined that position.

Marriage

In 1869, Paddock married Emma Mack, and they had several children. In 1872 he moved from Omaha to Beatrice, Nebraska

Beatrice, Nebraska

Beatrice is a city in and the county seat of Gage County, Nebraska.Beatrice is located south of Lincoln on the Big Blue River. It is surrounded by agricultural country. The population was 12,459 at the 2010 census.-History:...

 where he started a farm and a factory. In 1875, he was elected to the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

. As a senator, he served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee from 1877 to 1878. He was defeated for reelection in 1880.

Utah Territory Commission

In 1882, Paddock became part of a commission which set up elections in Utah Territory

Utah Territory

The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....

. He used this position to try to discourage the practice of polygamy

Polygamy

Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...

 in Utah. He was a member of the commission until 1886, when he was again elected to the United States Senate from Nebraska. He served another 6-year term, from 1887 to 1893, during which he was chairman of two committees. In 1891 he introduced an unsuccessful bill to regulate certain food production for safety reasons. After his death, similar and more extensive laws on this issue were passed.

Later life

After retiring from the Senate in 1893, Paddock returned to Beatrice, where he engaged in brokerage business until his death. After he died Paddock was interred at Prospect Hill Cemetery in North Omaha.

External links

• Algernon Sidney Paddock papers at Nebraska State Historical Society
  Nebraska State Historical Society
  The Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....