Algernon Paddock

January 9, 1830 (age 67)

Glens Falls, New York, United States

Algernon Paddock taught school and read law. In May 1857 he followed his brother, Joseph W. Paddock, to Omaha, Nebraska, where he promptly secured admission to the bar, preempted a farm nearby, and threw himself actively into the life of the new community. He identified himself with the Republican party, wrote strong anti-slavery editorials for the Nebraska Republican, ran for the state legislature in 1858 and lost, sat in the first Republican territorial convention ever to be held in Nebraska, and attended both the national conventions that nominated Lincoln for the presidency. During the campaign of 1860 he stumped the state of New York for the Republican ticket, and perhaps in reward for this service he was appointed by President Lincoln on Seward's nomination to be secretary of Nebraska territory. This office Paddock held continuously from 1861 to 1867, and twice, once in 1862 and again in 1867, he also acted as governor. He did not, therefore, see service in the Civil War, although he worked energetically to fill the Nebraska quotas of volunteers, and to enlist militia for the defense of the Nebraska frontier against the Indians. During the Reconstruction period, at considerable cost to his political advancement, he stood loyally by the Johnson administration. He went down to defeat in 1866 as the Independent Republican candidate for Congress. He failed of election in 1867 to the United States Senate, and he declined an appointment tendered him by President Johnson in 1868 as governor of Wyoming. He was still at odds with the dominant wing of the Republican party during the campaign of 1872, when he supported Greeley for president. That same year he changed his residence to Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, and turned his attention to business. Paddock rendered his principal public service as a member of the United States Senate for two terms, 1875 - 1881, and 1887 - 1893. He was the politician's ideal senator, for he conceived it to be his chief duty in Washington to look after the interests of his constituents. Few senators have ever worked harder or more successfully at this task. During his second term alone Algernon Sidney Paddock was said to have introduced or reported 328 bills that eventually passed. He watched jealously the interests of Nebraskans whenever national policies that would touch them intimately were up for consideration. Perhaps his greatest triumph came in 1890, when in response to a resolution he had introduced the Interstate Commerce Commission investigated the charges of excessive freight rates on western railroads and ordered reductions that saved Nebraska producers many thousands of dollars. He was replaced in 1881 by Chas. H. Van Wyck and in 1893 by William V. Allen, both men of radical tendencies who rose to power on waves of agrarian discontent. From 1882 to 1886 he was a member of the famous Utah Commission which sought with some success to induce the Mormons to obey the national laws on polygamy. Paddock had many friends, and deserved to have them.

Algernon Sidney Paddock

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politician

Background

Algernon Sidney was born on November 9, 1830 in Glens Falls, New York, United States. He was the son of Ira A. Paddock, a prominent lawyer, and Lucinda (Wells) Paddock.

Education

Algernon Sidney Paddock attended a local academy, then entered Union College at Schenectady, New York, from which, however, owing to financial difficulties, he was never graduated.

Career

Algernon Paddock taught school and read law. In May 1857 he followed his brother, Joseph W. Paddock, to Omaha, Nebraska, where he promptly secured admission to the bar, preempted a farm nearby, and threw himself actively into the life of the new community. He identified himself with the Republican party, wrote strong anti-slavery editorials for the Nebraska Republican, ran for the state legislature in 1858 and lost, sat in the first Republican territorial convention ever to be held in Nebraska, and attended both the national conventions that nominated Lincoln for the presidency.

During the campaign of 1860 he stumped the state of New York for the Republican ticket, and perhaps in reward for this service he was appointed by President Lincoln on Seward's nomination to be secretary of Nebraska territory. This office Paddock held continuously from 1861 to 1867, and twice, once in 1862 and again in 1867, he also acted as governor. He did not, therefore, see service in the Civil War, although he worked energetically to fill the Nebraska quotas of volunteers, and to enlist militia for the defense of the Nebraska frontier against the Indians.

During the Reconstruction period, at considerable cost to his political advancement, he stood loyally by the Johnson administration. He went down to defeat in 1866 as the Independent Republican candidate for Congress. He failed of election in 1867 to the United States Senate, and he declined an appointment tendered him by President Johnson in 1868 as governor of Wyoming. He was still at odds with the dominant wing of the Republican party during the campaign of 1872, when he supported Greeley for president. That same year he changed his residence to Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, and turned his attention to business. Paddock rendered his principal public service as a member of the United States Senate for two terms, 1875 - 1881, and 1887 - 1893.

He was the politician's ideal senator, for he conceived it to be his chief duty in Washington to look after the interests of his constituents. Few senators have ever worked harder or more successfully at this task. During his second term alone Algernon Sidney Paddock was said to have introduced or reported 328 bills that eventually passed. He watched jealously the interests of Nebraskans whenever national policies that would touch them intimately were up for consideration. Perhaps his greatest triumph came in 1890, when in response to a resolution he had introduced the Interstate Commerce Commission investigated the charges of excessive freight rates on western railroads and ordered reductions that saved Nebraska producers many thousands of dollars.

He was replaced in 1881 by Chas. H. Van Wyck and in 1893 by William V. Allen, both men of radical tendencies who rose to power on waves of agrarian discontent. From 1882 to 1886 he was a member of the famous Utah Commission which sought with some success to induce the Mormons to obey the national laws on polygamy. Paddock had many friends, and deserved to have them.

Achievements

Algernon Sidney Paddock was an eminent politican. Paddock was best known a Secretary for the Nebraska Territory. During his term of office, he helped organize the First and Second Nebraska Volunteer Regiments. As United States Senator, Paddock was instrumental in securing appropriations for the development of Nebraska's river harbors.

Politics

Paddock was a member of the Republican Party.

Personality

Algernon Sidney Paddock was even-tempered, unfailingly courteous, optimistic and always a man of his word.

Connections

Algernon Paddock was married on December 22, 1859, to Emma L. Mack, daughter of Daniel and Lucinda (Perry) Mack, of St. Lawrence County, New York. They had five children.

Father:: Ira A. Paddock
Mother:: Lucinda (Wells) Paddock
Spouse:: Emma L Paddock
Brother:: Joseph W. Paddock
Daughter:: Frances Amelia Paddock
Daughter:: Susie Paddock
Son:: Harriet Paddock
Son:: Daniel Mack Paddock
Son:: Franklin Algernon Paddock

References

Illustrated History Of Nebraska: A History Of Nebraska From The Earliest Explorations Of The Trans-mississippi Region, With Steel Engravings, Photogravures, Copper Plates, Maps And Tables, Volume 1

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Algernon Sidney Paddock

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