- William Valk
William Weightman Valk (born
December 12 ,1806 inCharleston, South Carolina ; diedSeptember 20 ,1879 inWashington, DC ) was a soldier in theAmerican Civil War and aU.S. Congressman .In 1830, Valk earned a degree in medicine, graduating from the
University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1830. He opened a practice inConnecticut . He joined the Navy during theMexican-American War and became chief surgeon on the USS "Constellation". Valk joined theCalifornia Gold Rush in 1849 and, upon failure, opened a practice onLong Island . From March 4, 1855 to March 3, 1857, Valk served in New York's 1st District in the United States House of Representatives.Finally settled in
Flushing, New York , and continued the practice of medicine until elected to Congress. He was elected as a candidate serving in New York's 1st District, as a member of the American Party to the Thirty-fourth Congress (March 4 ,1855 -March 3 ,1857 ). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. Upon the breakout of Civil War, he volunteered as chief surgeon of the 2nd Maryland (USA) Volunteer Infantry of theUnion Army . He later became a pension office clerk inWashington DC . He was interred in Flushing Cemetery.ource
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.