Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/136

 FLAGLER

FLANDERS

FLAGLER, Thomas Thorn, representative, was born at Pleasant Valley, N.Y., Oct. 12, 1811; son of Abraham and Sarah (Thorn) Flagler. He attended the common schools until his twelfth year wlien he began work in a bark mill. In 1827 he was apprenticed to the printing trade in the office of the Chenanyo Hepnblican. Oxford, N.Y., and in 1829 became half owner in the busi- ness. In 1834 he sold his interest and removed to Lockport, N.Y., where he started as a journey- man printer. In September, 1838, he purchased the Niagara Courier, through the columns of which lie introduced himself into politics. He was a member of the state legislature in 1843 and 1843, and in the latter year sold liis paper and engaged in the hardware business. He served for several years as treasurer of Niagara county. He was a Whig representative in the 33d and 34th congresses, 1853-.57, and while in congress was one of the one hundred who voted against the Kansas-Nebraska bill. In 1860 he again served in the state legislature, and in 1867-68 was a mem- ber of the state constitutional convention. In 18.J9 he organized the Holly manufacturing com- pany and was its president during the I'est of his life. He held jjositions of honor and responsi- bility in Lockport, and was president of the board of trustees of the Presbytery of Niagara, 1875-97. He married, in 1838. Iluidah M. Barrett. He died in Lockport, N.Y., Sept. 5, 1897.

FLANAGAN, James Winright, senator, was born in Gordonsville, Va., Sept. 5, 1805; son of Cliarles and Elizabeth (Saunders) Flanagan; grandson of Charles Flanagan, and a descendant of the O'Flanagans of tlie IGth century. In 1814 he removed with his parents to Cloverport, Ky., where he received a limited school training, and was a merchant and justice of the peace, 1823-33. He practised law in the Breckinridge county cir- cuit, 1833-43, and removed to Henderson, Texas, in 1844, where he became a merchant and cotton planter. He was a state representative, 1851-52 ; a state senator, 1855-06 ; presidential elector and delegate to peace convention, 1861 ; a member of the state constitutional conventions of 1866 and 1868, and lieutenant-governor of Texas, 1869. He was elected representative at large from Texas to the 41st congress, but did not take his seat liaving in the meantime been elected U.S. sena- tor. At the end of liis term, March 3, 1875, he retired to Iiis farm at Flanagan Mills, Texas. He was married in 1826 to Polly Miller, davighter of the Rev. J. T. F. Sloorman of Cloverport, Ky. He died at Longview. Texas, Sept. 19, 1887.

FLANAGAN, Webster, politician, was born in Cloverport, Ky., Jan. 9, 1832; son of Senator James Winright and Polly Miller (Moorman) Flanagan. He was taken by his parents to Hen- derson, Texas, in 1844. where he was admitted to

the bar in 1853 and became a local politician. He served in the Confederate army as brigadier-gen- eral of volunteers and at the close of the civil war was appointed judge of the 5th judicial dis- trict of Texas. He was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1869; lieutenant- governor, 1870-73, delegate to the Republican national convention of 1872 ; state senator, 1874- 75, and member of the state constitutional con- vention of 1875. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1880; one of the historical " 304 " Grant guard, at this con- vention, and w;as tlie author of the political slogan " what are we liere for '? " used in a speech in which lie was denouncing the principle of civil service reform, as proposed by the commit- tee on resolutions. He was again a delegate to the national convention of 1884 and there supported President Arthur for the presidential nominee. In the same year he was appointed collector of internal revenue for the 4th district of Texas, holding the office one j'ear. He be- came interested in the Henderson and Overton railroad, and was its president 1876-80; con- ducted a large stock farm, and was a delegate to the Republican national conventions of 1888, 1892 and 1896. In 1898 President McKinley appointed him collector of internal revenue for the 3d dis- trict of Texas.

FLANDERS, Benjamin Franklin, representa- tive, was born in Bristol. N.H., Jan. 26, 1816. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1842 and in 1843 settled in New Orleans, La., where he was a lawyer, a public school teacher, principal and superintendent, and an editor. In 1861 he was compelled to leave the city because of his Union sentiments, but returned in 18G2 and was ap- pointed city treasurer by General Butler. He resigned after a few months to take his seat, Feb. 15, 1803, in the'37tli congress as representative from Louisiana. The same year he was appointed special agent of the treasury department for Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, resigning in 1866. He was military governor of Louisiana fur six months of 1867 by appointment of Generr.l Sheridan; was ma3'or of New Orleans from Slay, 1870, to Dec. 31, 1872, and U.S. assistant treasurer at New Orleans, 1873-85. He died in New Or- leans. La., March 13, 1896.

FLANDERS, Henry, lawyer and author, was born in Sullivan county, N.H., Feb. 13, 1.S26; son of Charles and Lucretia (Kingsbury) Flanders. and a direct descendant of Stephen Flanders, who came from England in 1644-46. He acquired his preparatory education chiefly at Kimball acad- emy in New Hampshire, and at the Newbury seminary in Vermont. He studied law svith iiis father, and in 1850 removed to Philadelphia, Pa., wliere he practised his profess' >>i. He published.