James W. Husted (speaker)

James William Husted (October 31, 1833 Bedford, Westchester County, New York - September 25, 1892 Peekskill, Westchester County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician. During his political career he became known as the "Bald Eagle of Westchester".

Life

He was educated at Bedford Academy, and graduated from Yale College in 1854. Then he studied law with Edward Wells at Peekskill, New York and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He had become a member of the Know Nothing party, and in 1855, he was chosen Town Superintendent of Public Schools in Peekskill. In 1858, he was elected School Commissioner of Westchester County on the Know Nothing ticket. After the majority of the Know Nothings amalgamated with the Democratic Party in 1859, he published a vigorous protest against this "betrayal of the principles upon which the Know Nothing Party was founded", and joined the Republican Party. He was appointed a Deputy Superintendent of the State Insurance Department in 1860, a Harbormaster of New York in 1862, and later a Deputy Collector of the port.

He became a member of the New York State Assembly from Westchester County from 1869 to 1878, and from Rockland County in 1879 and 1880, and again from Westchester County from 1881 until his death. He served as Speaker in 1874, 1876, 1878, 1886, 1887 and 1890.

In March 1873, Governor John Adams Dix appointed him Major-General of the Fifth Division of the National Guard. Prior to this appointment he had been Judge Advocate on the staff of the Seventh Brigade of the State Militia.

In 1874, as Junior Grand Warden, he performed the Masonic burial rite at the interment of New York City Police Commissioner Henry Smith. In 1876, he became Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of the State of New York.

In June 1892, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Minneapolis. He returned already ill from the Convention and died shortly thereafter. He was buried at the Hillside Cemetery at Peekskill,N.Y.

His son was United States Representative James W. Husted.

ources

* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C03E2D91238E233A25755C2A96F9C94639ED7CF] Obituary in NYT on September 26, 1892
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F05E7D6173BEF34BC4051DFB466838F669FDE&oref=slogin] Burial of Henry Smith in NYT on February 28, 1874
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9804E2D81238E233A25753C3A96F9C94639ED7CF&oref=slogin] His funeral, in NYT on September 30, 1892