Cyrus L. Dunham
Encyclopedia
Cyrus Livingston Dunham was an attorney, soldier, and prominent Indiana
politician, serving most notably as a U.S. Representative
from Indiana
from 1849 to 1855.
in 1817, Dunham attended public schools, and eventually taught school. After earning a law degree and being admitted to the Bar
, he moved to Salem, Indiana
in 1841 and began practicing law. Dunham was elected prosecuting attorney of Washington County, Indiana
in 1845 and then served as a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives
for one term from 1846 to 1847.
Cyrus Livingston Dunham then successfully ran for Congress
, being elected to the Thirty-first
, Thirty-second
, and Thirty-third
Congresses (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1855) as a Democrat
. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Canals
during the Thirty-third Congress. After his time in Congress, he was appointed by Governor
Ashbel P. Willard
as Secretary of State of Indiana
, serving from 1859 to 1860.
During the American Civil War
, Dunham served in the Union Army
as Colonel
of the Fiftieth Regiment, Company S, Indiana
Volunteer Infantry
. He was commissioned on December 1, 1861 and honorably discharged on November 4, 1863.
Dunham was again elected as a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives for another term from 1864 to 1865. He married Malvina B. Markwell on January 6, 1870. He also lived in Jeffersonville, Indiana
while serving as Judge of Clark County, Indiana
Criminal Court from 1871 to 1874. .
members in Brownstown, Indiana
. In addition, he was rumored to have shipped the skulls of two other criminals hung by vigilantes in the same town to New York City.
From a New York Times article:
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
politician, serving most notably as a U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
from 1849 to 1855.
Biography
Born in Dryden, New YorkDryden, New York
Dryden, New York can refer to:* Dryden , New York* Dryden , New York...
in 1817, Dunham attended public schools, and eventually taught school. After earning a law degree and being admitted to the Bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
, he moved to Salem, Indiana
Salem, Indiana
Salem is a city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States. Salem serves as the county seat, and its downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places...
in 1841 and began practicing law. Dunham was elected prosecuting attorney of Washington County, Indiana
Washington County, Indiana
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,262. The county seat is Salem.Washington County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Early settlers:...
in 1845 and then served as a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives
Indiana House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
for one term from 1846 to 1847.
Cyrus Livingston Dunham then successfully ran for Congress
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, being elected to the Thirty-first
31st United States Congress
The Thirty-first 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, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the last 17 months...
, Thirty-second
32nd United States Congress
The Thirty-second 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, 1851 to March 3, 1853, during the third and...
, and Thirty-third
33rd United States Congress
The Thirty-third 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, 1853 to March 3, 1855, during the first two years...
Congresses (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1855) as a Democrat
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...
. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Canals
United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
during the Thirty-third Congress. After his time in Congress, he was appointed by Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Ashbel P. Willard
Ashbel P. Willard
Ashbel Parsons Willard was state senator, the 12th Lieutenant Governor, and the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. His terms in office were marked by increasingly severe partisanship leading to the breakup of the state Democratic Party in the years leading up to the American Civil War...
as Secretary of State of Indiana
Secretary of State of Indiana
The Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Indiana is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in Indiana's State Constitution of 1816. Since 1851 it has been an elected position. The Secretary of State has authority of several state departments, and is considered to be the...
, serving from 1859 to 1860.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Dunham served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Fiftieth Regiment, Company S, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
Volunteer Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
. He was commissioned on December 1, 1861 and honorably discharged on November 4, 1863.
Dunham was again elected as a member of the Indiana State House of Representatives for another term from 1864 to 1865. He married Malvina B. Markwell on January 6, 1870. He also lived in Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
while serving as Judge of Clark County, Indiana
Clark County, Indiana
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2010 Census, the population was 110,232. The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clarksville is also a major city in the county...
Criminal Court from 1871 to 1874. .
Additional Information
As an attorney Cyrus Livingston Dunham defended some of the notorious Reno GangReno Gang
The Reno Brothers Gang, also known as the Reno Gang and The Jackson Thieves, were a group of criminals that operated in the Midwestern United States during and just after the American Civil War. Though short-lived, they carried out the first three peacetime train robberies in U.S. history...
members in Brownstown, Indiana
Brownstown, Indiana
Brownstown is a town in Brownstown Township, Jackson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County. It was named for Jacob Brown, a General of the War of 1812.- History :...
. In addition, he was rumored to have shipped the skulls of two other criminals hung by vigilantes in the same town to New York City.
From a New York Times article:
Louisville (Kentucky), Tuesday, May 27, 1862:
Col. C.L. DUNHAM, of the Fiftieth Indiana, at Bowling Green, is suspected and criticised by Unionists of Warren, members of his regiment, and the Bedford (Ind.) Press. He is charged with disloyal sympathies, squinting at treason, neglecting his duty, giving up to "pleasurable indulgences," abusing and insulting his men. If he can exculpate himself, well. If not, he'll be cashiered.
Citations
- New York Times Article 1862
- American Civil War Soldiers Database, Provo, UT, USA
- W.P.A. Book 6, page 557, Marriages in Floyd County, Indiana
- Anarchy in the Heartland, 2008, by A. David Distler, page 66
External links
- The Battle at Parker's Crossroads, Tennessee Cyrus L Dunham commanding Union Forces.