Androscoggin County ME Archives Biographies.....Dingley, Nelson (Jr.) 1832 - 1899
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/mefiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 17, 2008, 4:23 am

Author: Everett S. Stackpole

   HON. NELSON DINGLEY, Jr., son of Nelson and Jane (Lambert) Dingley, was born
Feb. 15, 1832, on lot 90 in Durham, in the house now occupied by Herbert Wagg.
So many extended biographical sketches of him have been published that it is
here needful to state only the salient points of his career. When he was very
young, his parents removed to Parkman, thence to Unity, Me. He entered
Waterville College in 1851 and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1855, having
meanwhile gained much experience as a teacher, writer and debater. He studied
law with Fessenden & Morrill of Auburn and was admitted to the bar in 1856. He
purchased the LEWISTON JOURNAL in 1856, added a daily edition in 1861 (when his
brother Frank L. Dingley became connected with him in business) and soon gained
for it a reputation as an advocate of Republican principles, anti-slavery,
temperance and good morals. He was chosen Representative from Auburn to the
State Legislature, 1861-2, and from Lewiston 1863-4, 1867 and 1872. Was twice
elected Speaker of the House. In 1867-8 he was at the head of the State Lodge of
Good Templars. In 1873 he was elected Governor of Maine and re-elected the
following year. During all this time he was conspicuous as a political writer
and speaker. In 1881 he was elected a member of the National House of
Representatives, and has been a member of every Congress since that date. His
speeches on American Shipping and National Finance have caused him to be
recognized as a leader. He has served as Chairman of several very important
committees. In 1894 he was made Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, and
became leader of the Republican majority of the House. He was tendered by
President McKinley the position of Secretary of the Treasury, but preferred to
remain in the House. He was in 1898 a member of the International Commission to
adjust differences with Canada. The success of the Dingley Tariff Bill has
confirmed his reputation as a financier and statesman.

   Mr. Dingley is a member of the Congregational Church and was Moderator of the
National Congregational Council in 1894, at Syracuse, N. Y. He was honored with
the degree of LL.D. by Bates College in 1874 and by Dartmouth College in 1894.
Durham is proud of him, and he has no reason to be ashamed of Durham. He showed
his loyalty to his native town by delivering the principal address at her
Centennial in 1889.

   Since the above was written Mr. Dingley has died at Washington, D. C, 13 Jan.
1899, of pneumonia, lamented by the entire nation. The loss of his public
services is deeply felt. All parties unite to do honor to the memory of a noble
and eminently useful life.


Additional Comments:

Part of Chapter IX.
A FEW OUT OF MANY

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF DURHAM, MAINE
WITH GENEALOGICAL NOTES.

BY EVERETT S. STACKPOLE.

PUBLISHED BY VOTE OF TOWN.

LEWISTON: PRESS OF LEWISTON JOURNAL COMPANY. 
1899.


Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/me/androscoggin/photos/bios/dingley3nbs.jpg

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/me/androscoggin/bios/dingley3nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mefiles/

File size: 3.6 Kb