Joseph C. Sibley
Encyclopedia
Joseph Crocker Sibley was a U.S. Representative from the state
of Pennsylvania
.
Joseph C. Sibley was born in Friendship, New York
. In 1859 he moved with his parents to Boston, New York
. He attended the county schools and the local academies at Springville and Friendship. He taught school and studied medicine. He was engaged in the oil
-refining business in Franklin, Pennsylvania as co-founder (with his brother-inlaw Charles Miller) of the Galena Oil Company, specializing in high-quality railroad lubricant. Sibley actually landed that contract on an ill-fated trip to Chicago for a meeting with the major railroab barons of the day-- he won the contract, but woke up the next day to find himself in the middle of the Great Chicago Fire
. Galena was soon to be one of the early acquisitions for John D. Rockefeller
and the Standard Oil Company. With his money, Sibley established himself in agricultural circles, particularly as a breeder of fine horses. His wealth also enabled him to launch a political career. He was mayor of Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1879.
Sibley was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third
Congress. He was unsuccessful candidate of the Democratic and Populist Parties for reelection in 1894 and for election in 1896. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth
Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh
, Fifty-eighth
, and Fifty-ninth
Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Manufactures during the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses. He declined renomination in 1906. He was nominated for Congress in 1910, but declined to make the campaign because of ill health. He served as chairman of the Republican State convention in 1902. He resumed his former manufacturing and agricultural pursuits, and died at his home, “River Ridge Farm,”near Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1926. Interment in Franklin Cemetery.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Joseph C. Sibley was born in Friendship, New York
Friendship, New York
Friendship is a town in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 1,927 at the 2000 census. The town's name was adopted to mark the resolution of earlier conflicts....
. In 1859 he moved with his parents to Boston, New York
Boston, New York
Boston is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 7,897 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Boston, Massachusetts....
. He attended the county schools and the local academies at Springville and Friendship. He taught school and studied medicine. He was engaged in the oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
-refining business in Franklin, Pennsylvania as co-founder (with his brother-inlaw Charles Miller) of the Galena Oil Company, specializing in high-quality railroad lubricant. Sibley actually landed that contract on an ill-fated trip to Chicago for a meeting with the major railroab barons of the day-- he won the contract, but woke up the next day to find himself in the middle of the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
. Galena was soon to be one of the early acquisitions for John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
and the Standard Oil Company. With his money, Sibley established himself in agricultural circles, particularly as a breeder of fine horses. His wealth also enabled him to launch a political career. He was mayor of Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1879.
Sibley was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-third
53rd United States Congress
The Fifty-third 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, 1893 to March 4, 1895, during the fifth and sixth...
Congress. He was unsuccessful candidate of the Democratic and Populist Parties for reelection in 1894 and for election in 1896. He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh
57th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:*Democratic: 151*Republican: 200 *Populist: 5*Silver : 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Theodore Roosevelt , until September 14, 1901, vacant thereafter....
, Fifty-eighth
58th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Republican : 209 * Democratic : 176* Silver Republican : 1TOTAL members: 386-Senate:* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: William P. Frye -Members:...
, and Fifty-ninth
59th United States Congress
The Fifty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1905 to March 4, 1907, during the fifth and sixth...
Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Manufactures during the Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth Congresses. He declined renomination in 1906. He was nominated for Congress in 1910, but declined to make the campaign because of ill health. He served as chairman of the Republican State convention in 1902. He resumed his former manufacturing and agricultural pursuits, and died at his home, “River Ridge Farm,”near Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1926. Interment in Franklin Cemetery.
Sources
- The Political Graveyard
- Mays, Jack. Destiny's Gentleman. 1979.