Charles J Folger Collection, bulk 1842-1884, 1920-2001
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Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Historic Geneva
- Abstract:
- Charles J Folger served as Secretary of the Treasury in President Chester A Arthur's cabinet.
- Extent:
- One Box
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection includes correspondence, articles, and photographs about Charles Folger, dated from around 1842-1884. Materials after his death include legal paperwork, articles, and biographies which date from 1920 through 2001. Correspondence from Charles to his future wife Susan reveal a tumultuous betrothal period in the early 1840s as Susan’s mother disapproved of Charles.
- Biographical / historical:
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Charles J Folger was born on April 16, 1818 in Nantucket, CT. His family moved to Geneva in 1831 and Charles graduated from Geneva College (now Hobart) in 1836, then studied law in Canandaigua, Geneva, and Lyons under various attorneys. He married Susan Worth Jr. in 1844 and they had three children, Susan, Jennie, and Charles Jr.
Charles opened a law office in Geneva and got involved in local and state politics. He was elected County Judge of Ontario County in 1951 and held that position for four years. He served as President of the Village Trustees and in 1857 became Geneva’s first chief of police. In 1861, he entered the Senate and held his position until his resignation in 1869 to accept the appointment of Assistant US Treasurer in New York. He was then elected to the Court of Appeals in 1870.
In 1870, Charles received a Doctor of Laws from Hobart College, serving as Associate Judge then Chief Judge in 1880. In 1881, he resigned to become President Chester A. Arthur’s Secretary of the Treasury.
In 1884, Charles became very ill and traveled home to Geneva where he continued his duties despite his deteriorating condition. On September 4, 1884, Charles died from a heart condition and other complications. President Arthur and other Washington and New York officials gathered in Geneva for his funeral where he was buried in Glenwood Cemetery next to Susan who died seven years earlier.
Captain Charles Folger Jr. married Vashti Susan Depew; they were living in Alexandria, VA at the time of his father’s death. Their daughter Mirabel Depew Folger married Orlo James Hamlin in Geneva in 1899 at Trinity Church.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Names:
- Folger, Charles J. (Charles James), 1818-1884
- Places:
- Geneva (N.Y.)
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
N/a
- Location of this collection:
- Contact:
- 315-789-5151archivist@historicgeneva.org