John B. Alley
Encyclopedia
John Bassett Alley was a businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative
from Massachusetts
.
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts
, Alley attended the common schools and Phillips Academy
Andover.
At the age of fourteen was apprenticed to work for a shoemaker. Alley was released at nineteen.
He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
, in 1836.
Freighted merchandise up and down the Mississippi River.
He returned to Lynn, Massachusetts
in 1838 and entered the shoe manufacturing business.
He established a hide and leather house in Boston in 1847.
He served as member of the first Board of Aldermen of Lynn, Massachusetts in 1850.
He served as member of the Governor's council 1847-1851.
He served in the State senate in 1852.
He served as member of the constitutional convention of 1853.
Alley was a Free Soil Candidate for Congress in 1852.
Alley was elected as a Republican
to the Thirty-sixth
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1867).
He served as chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads (Thirty-eighth
and Thirty-ninth
Congresses).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1866.
He became connected with the Union Pacific Railroad.
During the 1880s and 1890s Alley was involved in a protracted lawsuit known as the Snow-Alley case which damaged his health and cost him a large part of his fortune.
Alley abandoned active business pursuits in 1886 and lived in retirement until his death in West Newton, Massachusetts
, January 19, 1896.
He was interred in Pine Grove Cemetery
, Lynn, Massachusetts
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, Alley attended the common schools and Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
Andover.
At the age of fourteen was apprenticed to work for a shoemaker. Alley was released at nineteen.
He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, in 1836.
Freighted merchandise up and down the Mississippi River.
He returned to Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
in 1838 and entered the shoe manufacturing business.
He established a hide and leather house in Boston in 1847.
He served as member of the first Board of Aldermen of Lynn, Massachusetts in 1850.
He served as member of the Governor's council 1847-1851.
He served in the State senate in 1852.
He served as member of the constitutional convention of 1853.
Alley was a Free Soil Candidate for Congress in 1852.
Alley was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Thirty-sixth
36th United States Congress
The Thirty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1859 to March 4, 1861, during the third and fourth...
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1867).
He served as chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads (Thirty-eighth
38th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Before this Congress, the 1860 United States Census and resulting reapportionment changed the size of the House to 241 members...
and Thirty-ninth
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
Congresses).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1866.
He became connected with the Union Pacific Railroad.
During the 1880s and 1890s Alley was involved in a protracted lawsuit known as the Snow-Alley case which damaged his health and cost him a large part of his fortune.
Alley abandoned active business pursuits in 1886 and lived in retirement until his death in West Newton, Massachusetts
West Newton, Massachusetts
West Newton is a village of the City of Newton, Massachusetts and is one of the oldest of the thirteen Newton villages. The postal code 02465 roughly matches the village limits.-Location:...
, January 19, 1896.
He was interred in Pine Grove Cemetery
Pine Grove Cemetery (Lynn, Massachusetts)
Pine Grove Cemetery is a cemetery located in Lynn, Massachusetts. It was established in the mid-19th century and it consists of 82 developed acres. There are approximately 88,000 to 90,000 interments at the cemetery.-History:...
, Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
.