Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: WOLCOTT, Edward Oliver (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II

p. 9, 12 
photo p.10

     HON. EDWARD OLIVER WOLCOTT.

	Hon. Edward Oliver Wolcott, who was a most distinguished citizen 
of Colorado and the representative of his state in the national halls 
of legislation, serving as United States senator, was born in 
Longmeadow, Massachusetts, March 26, 1848, and had scarcely reached the 
fifty-seventh milestone on life's journey when called to his final 
rest, passing away on the Riviera, March 1, 1905, while traveling with 
his brother in Europe. His ancestral history is one of long and close 
connection with New England. The line is traced back to Tolland, 
Somersetshire, England, where lived Henry Wolcott, representative of a 
family that had there resided through many generations. The spirit of 
enterprise actuated this Henry Wolcott, who, leaving his mother 
country, sailed from Plymouth, England, on the 20th of March, 1630, and 
was one of the company that settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. After 
six years' residence there he went to Connecticut in 1636 and from that 
period to the present members of the Wolcott family have figured in 
connection with events which are indelibly stamped upon the pages of 
American history. One of the members of the family affixed his 
signature to the most famous American state paper-the Declaration of 
Independence. Washington appointed one of the members of the family to 
a place in his cabinet, three of the number have served as governor of 
Connecticut and one as governor of Massachusetts, while in more recent 
days others of the name have won fame and distinction, Edward O. 
Wolcott becoming United States senator from Colorado, while his 
brother, Henry Roger Wolcott, serving as a member of the Colorado 
senate, became acting governor of the state, and his sister, Miss Anna 
Louise Wolcott, now Mrs. Joel F. Vaile, was elected regent of the State 
University in 1910. The Wolcott family are the possessors of a coat of 
arms, which includes three chess-rooks, the use of which was authorized 
by Henry V to one of the ancestors, who checkmated the king in a game 
of chess. It was Samuel Wolcott, great-grandfather of Senator Wolcott, 
who served with the American forces in the Revolutionary war. He was 
the father of Elihu Wolcott and the latter in turn the father of the 
Rev. Samuel Wolcott, who was born in South Windsor. Connecticut. July 
2, 1813, and passed away at Longmeadow, Massachusetts, in February, 
1886. He was a man of scholarly attainments who was graduated from Yale 
in 1833 and completed a course in the Andover Theological Seminary with 
the class of 1837. He afterward did missionary work in Syria and 
following his return to the United States was pastor of many of the 
leading Congregational churches. He was the author of many well known 
hymns, including the one which is so generally sung, "Christ for the 
World We Sing." 

	The family has ever been noted for marked devotion to country and 
in 1864, when but sixteen years of age, Edward O. Wolcott displayed the 
patriotic spirit which had ever actuated his ancestors by enlisting in 
the One Hundred and Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he 
served in the defense of Washington. Following the close of the war he 
resumed his interrupted education, matriculating at Yale in 1866. After 
studying for a time there he took up the study of law at Harvard and 
completed his course in 1871. On the 20th of September of the same year 
he arrived in Colorado and for eight weeks engaged in teaching school 
at Blackhawk but at the end of that period entered upon the active 
practice of his chosen profession. In Christmas week of 1871 he removed 
to Georgetown, Colorado, where he made his home and practiced law until 
1879. He then became a resident of Denver. Throughout the intervening 
period he had made steady progress in his profession and outside of his 
practice had become well known as the writer of various newspaper 
articles. In 1876 he had been elected to the office of district 
attorney and he was again called upon for public service when on the 
4th of March, 1889, he became United States senator as the successor of 
Thomas M. Bowen. In January, 1895, he was reelected and for twelve. 
years remained a member of the upper house of the national legislature. 
The split in the party over the question of bimetallism, together with 
other political complications in the west, brought defeat to the 
republican party and prevented reelection for a third term. In this 
connection a contemporary writer has said: "It was a battle royal, and 
nerved by the great odds against him, Wolcott was never more 
magnificent in his oratory than in that campaign, when bearing aloft 
the banner of his party and leading an almost forlorn hope, he and what 
is commonly known as the 'Old Republican Guard' went to their defeat."

	Senator Wolcott was a man whose power and ability constantly 
expanded through the exercise of effort. In his early professional 
career he was a somewhat diffident speaker but at all times thoroughly 
earnest. As the years passed his oratorical powers developed and he was 
able to sway his audiences by the force of his logic, the strength of 
his reasoning and his employment of the most rounded rhetorical 
figures. His advancement in his profession was equally marked and 
continuous. His practice steadily grew in volume and importance and he 
became attorney and counselor for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and 
other large corporations. He was heard in connection with much 
important mining litigation and the field of his labor constantly 
broadened. He was never surprised by the unexpected attack of an 
adversary, for his preparation of a case was always thorough and 
exhaustive. Success in large measure came to him and although not 
seeking honors, honors were yet multiplied unto him. In 1901 President 
McKinley appointed him a delegate to negotiate for international 
bimetallism. Ever ready to listen to the arguments of any, his opinions 
were yet his own, founded upon the clearest reasoning, upon wide 
experience and notably keen insight. His life was strong and purposeful 
and far-reaching in its results, reflecting credit and honor upon a 
family name that has remained untarnished throughout the entire period 
of American history.