Selucius Garfielde was an American lawyer and politician who was a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Territory of Washington for two terms, serving from 1869 to 1873.
30 Facts About Selucius Garfielde
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At some point in his life, Selucius Garfielde moved to Gallipolis, Ohio, and then to Paris, Kentucky.
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Selucius Garfielde became a reporter in Kentucky, and in 1849 was elected to the Kentucky Constitutional Convention as a delegate from Fleming County.
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Selucius Garfielde traveled throughout South America in 1850 before finally settling in California in 1851.
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In 1852, Selucius Garfielde was elected to the California State Assembly as a Democrat from El Dorado County.
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Selucius Garfielde served a single term, from January 3 to May 19,1853.
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Selucius Garfielde was appointed by the legislature to codify the laws of the state in 1853.
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Selucius Garfielde was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1854, and established a legal practice in San Francisco.
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Selucius Garfielde married Sarah Electa Perry, a native of Shoreham, Vermont, in October 1853.
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Selucius Garfielde earned a wide reputation as a "captivating" public speaker.
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When Stevens ran for re-election in 1858, Selucius Garfielde abandoned him early in the campaign.
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Selucius Garfielde feared that Stevens would lose the general election, jeopardizing Garfielde's position at the land office.
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Selucius Garfielde sought the Democratic Party nomination for Territorial Delegate in 1861.
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Selucius Garfielde broke with pro-secession Democrats, putting him at odds with Stevens.
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Selucius Garfielde next played a direct role in the organization of the Idaho Territory.
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Selucius Garfielde switched political parties, becoming a Republican some time between November 1861 and January 1864.
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Selucius Garfielde continued to practice law, but he continued to be actively involved in politics.
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Selucius Garfielde's popularity was such that, at the beginning of the convention, even he received a few votes to be the party nominee.
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In 1868, Selucius Garfielde sought and won the Republican Party's nomination for Territorial Delegate.
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Selucius Garfielde's inconstant political views and his flowery oratory had alienated many, who felt he was a political opportunist.
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Selucius Garfielde began serving on March 4,1869, but the House declined to seat him until December 1870.
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Selucius Garfielde won re-election to Congress in 1870 over Walla Walla Democrat JD Mix by a more comfortable 735 votes out of more than 6,200 cast.
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Billings believed that Selucius Garfielde had allied himself too closely to independent loggers who routinely stolen timber from NP forest lands.
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Selucius Garfielde believed his work for the railway and the loggers would win him the votes he needed for re-election.
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Selucius Garfielde was defeated in 1872 in his bid for a third term by Democrat Obadiah Benton McFadden by 761 votes out of 7,700 cast.
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Selucius Garfielde left Washington, DC, and moved to Seattle where he engaged in the practice of law and served as customs collector until June 22,1874.
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Selucius Garfielde returned to Washington, DC, shortly after losing his customs job.
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Selucius Garfielde established several gambling parlors in the city, and although frequently raided he never served jail time.
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Selucius Garfielde married Nellie Homer, proprietress of a bar for the criminal element and down-and-out, in late 1881.
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Selucius Garfielde fell ill with both pleurisy and pneumonia in April 1883.