Gershom Powers

Gershom Powers (born July 11, 1789 in Croydon , New Hampshire , † June 25, 1831 in Auburn , New York ) was an American lawyer and politician . Between 1829 and 1831 he represented New York State in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Gershom Powers was born in Sullivan County about six years after the War of Independence ended . He attended community schools, but was largely self-taught . While attending local law school, he taught at a school in the town of Sempronius , Cayuga County . He graduated in 1810. After receiving his license to practice law that year, he began practicing in Auburn. In 1820 he was appointed superintendent of Auburn Prison - a position he held until 1823. Between 1823 and 1828 he was First Judge on the Court of Common Pleas in Cayuga County. Politically, he belonged to the Jackonian faction.

In the 1828 congressional election for the 21st Congress , Powers was elected to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the 24th  constituency of New York , where he succeeded Nathaniel Garrow on March 4, 1829 . Since he refused to run again in 1830 , he left the Congress on March 3, 1831 . During his time in Congress he chaired the Committee on District of Columbia .

On April 2, 1830, he was appointed inspector at Auburn Prison - a position he held until his death. He died in Auburn on June 25, 1831 and was then buried in North Street Cemetery .

Web links

• Gershom Powers in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Gershom Powers in the database of Find a Grave (English)