Hiram Walden (August 21, 1800 – July 21, 1880) was an American businessman and politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a United States Representative from 1849 to 1851.

Hiram Walden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 21st district
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851
Preceded byGeorge A. Starkweather
Succeeded byWilliam W. Snow
Member of the New York State Assembly from Schoharie County
In office
January 1, 1836 – December 31, 1836
Serving with Alvin Wilkins
Preceded byJohn F. Hiller, Jonas Krum
Succeeded byPhilip Mann, Reuben Merchant
Town Supervisor of Wright, New York
In office
1846–1849
Preceded byNone (position created)
Succeeded byHenry D. Rosekrans
Town Supervisor of Schoharie, New York
In office
1842–1844
Preceded byJohn S. Brown
Succeeded byDaniel Larkin
Personal details
BornAugust 21, 1800
Pawlet, Vermont
DiedJuly 21, 1880(1880-07-21) (aged 79)
Wright, New York
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSophia Dominick (m. 1822-1880, his death)
Children10
OccupationBusinessman
Farmer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
New York
Branch/serviceNew York Militia
Years of service1830s-1840s
RankMajor General
Commands16th Division

Biography

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Walden was born in Pawlet, Vermont on August 21, 1800.[1] He attended the district schools of Pawlet and moved to Berne, New York in 1818.[1] In 1821, he moved to the hamlet of Waldenville in what is now the town of Wright.[1] Walden farmed and was involved in the manufacture of axes, a business he operated until it was destroyed in an 1846 fire.[1][2]

He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1836.[3] In addition to his business interests, Walden was involved in the state militia and in 1839 he attained the rank of major general as commander of the 16th Division.[4][5] He commanded the division until resigning in 1841.[6] He was Schoharie's town supervisor from 1842 to 1844.[7] When the town of Wright was created by separating it from Schoharie, Walden was Wright's first town supervisor, and he served from 1846 to 1849.[8]

In 1848, Walden was the successful Democratic nominee for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.[1] He served in the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851).[9] During his House term, Walden was a member of the Committee on Invalid Pensions and chairman of the Committee on Patents.[9] He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1850.[1]

After leaving Congress, Walden was employed as an inspector in New York City's United States Custom House.[1] After retiring, he was a resident of Waldenville until his death on July 21, 1880.[1] He was buried at Berne and Beaverdam Cemetery (formerly Pine Grove) in Berne, New York.[1]

Family

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In 1822, Walden married Sophia Dominick (1803-1893), daughter of John Dominick and Margaretha Ball.[10] They were the parents of 10 children, of whom eight lived to adulthood.[11]

Miner (b. 1823)
Hiram Jr. (b. 1828)
John D. (b. 1833)
Moses P. (b. 1835)
Albert D. (b. 1837)
Sylvanus (b. 1839)
Isaac D. (b. 1841)
Elmina Edna (b. 1844)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i United States Congress (1961). Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. p. 1762 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Walden's Axe Factory Burnt". The Schenectady Cabinet: Or, Freedom's Sentinel. Schenectady, NY. March 10, 1846. p. 3 – via New York State Library: NYS Historic Newspapers.
  3. ^ New York State Assembly (1852). Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Seventy-Fifth Session. Vol. 7. Albany, NY: C. Van Benthuysen. p. 214 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Hendrix, Lester E. (1991). The Sloughters' History of Schoharie County: From the Arrival of the Wisconsin Glacier to the Devastation of North Blenheim. Schoharie, NY: Schoharie County Historical Society – via Google Books.
  5. ^ New York State Assembly (1840). Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Sixty-Third Session. Vol. III. Albany, NY: Thurlow Weed. p. 17 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Appointments by the Governor and Senate: February 2, 1841". Albany Argus. Albany, NY. February 12, 1841. p. 2 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  7. ^ Roscoe, William E. (1882). History of Schoharie County, New York, 1713-1882. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason. p. 381 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Roscoe, p. 353.
  9. ^ a b Journal of the United States House of Representatives. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives. 1850. p. 188 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Roscoe, p. 560.
  11. ^ Schoharie County Historical Review. Vol. 30–36. Schoharie, NY: Schoharie County Historical Society. 1966. p. 4 – via Google Books.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 21st congressional district

1849–1851
Succeeded by