Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/337

 COLES

COLFAX

surgery in Newark and Scotch Plains, N.J. He edited new editions of his father's works and contributed to the medical and general press. He became a member of the New York academy of medicine and of the New York county medical society, and in 1891 was elected president of the Union county, N.J., medical society. He was made member of the Amer- ican medical asso- ciation, a trustee and life member of the New Jersey historical society, a member of the Washington asso- ciation of Morristown, N.J., and a fellow for life of the Metropoli- tan museum of art, New York. Individually and as executor of his father's estate he gave many valuable works of art to the city of Newark and to institutions of learning throughout the United States. The famous painting, figures life size, known as "The Good Samaritan," the work of Daniel Huntington assisted by Paul Delaroclie in Paris, 1853-53, he gave to the people of New Jersey, for the main hall of the state house at Trenton. His gift of the historic life- size bronze Indian group, ex- ecuted by C. B. Ives in Rome, Italy, in 1886, was, with its marble pedestal, unveiled in Lincoln Park, Newark, N.J.. Nov. 28, 1895. In August, 1898, he presented to Admiral George Dewey an allegorical bronze, executed by Antoine Louis Barye (1795-1875), im- ported and mounted by Tif- fany & Co., New York.

COLES, Walter, representative, was born in Pittsylvania county, Va., in 1789; son of Jolin

and (Tucker) Coles. He engaged in farm

ing and was subsequently justice of the peace for many years. On March 12, 1812, he was made 2d lieutenant in the 2d light dragoons, and was promoted captain in the 3d rifles March 17, 1814, serving on the northern frontier till 1815. He was a representative in the Virginia legislature, 1833-34, and represented his district as a Demo- crat in the 24th, 25th, 26tli, 27th and 2Stli con- gresses, 1835-45; after which he declined a re-election and retired to his farm. He was married to Eliza F., daughter of Bowler Cocke

of Turkey Island, Va. He died at his residence near Roberson's Store, Va., Nov. 9, 1857.

COLFAX, Schuyler, statesman, was born in New York city, March 23, 1823 ; son of Schuyler and Hannah (Stryker) Colfax; grandson of Gen. "William and Hetty (Schuyler) Colfax, and

of Peter and (De La Mater) Stryker ; and a

descendant from William Colfax who came from England and settled in Wethersfield, Conn., before 1643; from Glaude and Hester (Du Bois) Le Maister, who came from Brittany, were married in Amsterdam and settled in Haarlem, New Amsterdam; and from Jacob Gerriste Strycker, who came to New Amsterdam in 1652 from Holland. His maternal grandfather was a captain of Washington's life-guards, and his grandmother a daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler. His father, a clerk in the Mechanics' bank in New York city, died Oct. 20, 1822, before Schuy- ler was born, and his mother afterward married George W. Mathews. Schuyler attended the best private schools and served as a clerk in the store of his step-father. In 1836 the family removed to New Carlisle, Ind., where Schuyler was appointed by his step-father in 1841 deputy auditor of St. Joseph county, with his office at South Bend. He became interested in journalism and served for two years as reporter of the state senate for the State Journal, Indianapolis. In 1844, in company with A.W. West, he purchased the Free Press, published at South Bend, and changed its name in 1845 to the St. Joseph Valley Berjister, making it a Whig organ, and the paper and its editor acquired a state reputation. In the Whig national convention of 1848 he was a delegate and one of the secretaries. In 1850 he was a member of the state convention to revise the constitution, and voted against the legal exclusion of free colored men from Indiana. In 1851 he made his first political canvass, for representative in the 33d congress against Dr. Graham N. Fitch, met seventy speaking ap- l^ointments, but failed of an election. He was a delegate-at-large to the Whig national conven- tion of 1852; declined renomination as represen- tative in 1853, but in 1855 accepted the Repub- lican nomination. He was a representative in the 34th and six succeeding congresses, 1855- 69, serving as speaker of the house through- out the 38th, 39th and 40th congresses, and gaining renown as an effective party leader and legislator. As chairman of the committee on post-offices and post-roads he greatly advanced the mail facilities and gave to the growing region bej'ond the Mississippi its first daily mail service. In 1861 he championed the cause of General Fr6mont when his Missouri cam- l)aign was criticised in the house by Gen. Frank P. Blair. In 1862 he introduced the bill