Edmund L. Pitts
Encyclopedia
Edmund Levi Pitts was an American lawyer and politician.
at Albion, New York
, and graduated from the State and National Law School in Poughkeepsie, New York
in 1860.
He married Una E. Stokes (1843–1920) on December 9, 1862. Their only child was Grace M. Pitts (1867–1900).
He was a member from Orleans County of the New York State Assembly
from 1864 to 1868. He was chosen Speaker of the New York State Assembly
at the age of 27, to date the youngest man ever to hold this office.
He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1868 and 1884.
From May 1870 to June 1873, he was an Assessor of United States Revenue for Orleans County.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
from 1880 to 1883, and from 1886 to 1887, serving as President pro tempore
in 1886 and 1887. In May 1881, when Roscoe Conkling
and Thomas C. Platt
resigned their seats in the United States Senate
, he opposed firmly their re-election.
He was buried at Boxwood Cemetery in Ridgeway, New York
.
Life
He was the son of John M. Pitts (1814–1907) and Mary Ann Clark Pitts (1820–1873). He was educated at Yates Academy, then studied law with Sanford E. ChurchSanford E. Church
Sanford Elias Church was an American lawyer and Democratic politician...
at Albion, New York
Albion, New York
Albion may refer to the following places in the U.S. state of New York:* Albion , Orleans County, New York* Albion , Orleans County, New York* Albion, Oswego County, New York, a town...
, and graduated from the State and National Law School in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
in 1860.
He married Una E. Stokes (1843–1920) on December 9, 1862. Their only child was Grace M. Pitts (1867–1900).
He was a member from Orleans County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1864 to 1868. He was chosen Speaker of the New York State Assembly
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
at the age of 27, to date the youngest man ever to hold this office.
He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1868 and 1884.
From May 1870 to June 1873, he was an Assessor of United States Revenue for Orleans County.
He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1880 to 1883, and from 1886 to 1887, serving as President pro tempore
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
in 1886 and 1887. In May 1881, when Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party and the last person to refuse a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had...
and Thomas C. Platt
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
resigned their seats in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, he opposed firmly their re-election.
He was buried at Boxwood Cemetery in Ridgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
.
Sources
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E06EFDF1E3CE13BBC4B53DFB766838C679FDE&oref=slogin Speaker election, NYT on January 3, 1867
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D04E2D8103CEE3ABC4850DFBF66838A699FDE Nomination for re-election to the State Senate, in NYT on September 30, 1881
- Bio in Appleton's Encyclopedia, at famousamericans.net
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B0CE3D81230E533A25756C0A9679C94679FD7CF Chosen as Pres. pro tem of State Senate, in NYT on January 5, 1886
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/pitts.html#RQP0UWC1E Political Graveyard
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyorlean/obitp.htm#PITTS His father's and wfe's obits, at Rootsweb
- http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyorlean/boxwoodp.htm List of burials at Boxwood Cemetery, at Rootsweb
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9902E5DB103CE433A25751C1A9619C94699ED7CF His obit in NYT on July 12, 1898