Samuel D. Felker
American politician (1859–1932)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Demeritt Felker (April 16, 1859 – November 14, 1932) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Rochester, New Hampshire.
Samuel Demeritt Felker | |
|---|---|
| |
| 54th Governor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 2, 1913 – January 1, 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Robert P. Bass |
| Succeeded by | Rolland H. Spaulding |
| Mayor of Rochester, New Hampshire | |
| In office 1896–1897 | |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives | |
| In office 1909–1911 | |
| Member of the New Hampshire Senate | |
| In office 1890–1892 | |
| Judge of the Rochester, N.H. Municipal Court | |
| In office July 20, 1915 – 1930 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 16, 1859 |
| Died | November 14, 1932 (aged 73) Rochester, New Hampshire |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Mary J. Dudley (m. 1900) |
| Dartmouth College, 1882; Boston University School of Law, L.L.B., A.M., 1887 | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Family life
Felker was born to William H. and Deborah A. (Demeritt) Felker in Rochester, New Hampshire.[1][2] Felker married Mary J. Dudley[2] on June 26, 1900[3] in Buffalo, New York.[4] Felker was a member of the Congregationalist Church.[3][4]
Education
Felker graduated from Dartmouth College in 1882. In 1888 Felker earned a A.M. and a L.L.B from the Boston University School of Law.[2]
Early political career
Felker was a member of the New Hampshire state constitutional convention of 1889,[3] he served in the New Hampshire Senate from 1890 to 1892, as the mayor of Rochester, New Hampshire in 1896 and 1897, and from 1909 to 1911 in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[2]
Governor of New Hampshire
In 1912, Felker, a political progressive,[5] ran as a Democrat for governor of New Hampshire. Because no candidate received a majority of the vote, Felker was selected as governor by the New Hampshire legislature.[2] He did not seek reelection in 1914 and, after deliberating, decided against a bid for the state's U.S. Senate seat.[6][7]
Judge of the Rochester Municipal Court
Felker's gubernatorial successor, Rolland H. Spaulding, appointed Felker as Judge of the Rochester Municipal Court, a position Felker held from July 20, 1915[4] until 1930.[2]