Henry S. Magraw
{{Short description|American politician (1815–1867)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Henry S. Magraw
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| state_delegate = Maryland
| district = Cecil County
| term_start = 1867
| term_end = February 1, 1867
| alongside = Alexander Evans, John Golibart, William Lindsey, George P. Whitaker
| predecessor = Jesse A. Kirk, James McCauley, Jethro J. McCullough, George B. Pennington
| successor = John Ward Davis, Levi R. Mearns, William Richards, James Touchstone
| office2 = 24th Treasurer of Pennsylvania
| term_start2 = May 1, 1856
| term_end2 = May 1, 1859
| predecessor2 = Eli Slifer
| successor2 = Eli Slifer
| birth_name = Henry Slaymaker Magraw
| birth_date = {{birth date|1815|12|17}}
| birth_place = West Nottingham, Maryland, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1867|2|1|1815|12|17}}
| death_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| resting_place = West Nottingham Cemetery
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Emily W. Hopkins
| children = 4
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|lawyer}}
| known_for =
| signature =
}}
Henry Slaymaker Magraw (December 17, 1815 – February 1, 1867) was an American politician and lawyer. He served as State Treasurer of Pennsylvania from 1856 to 1859. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County in 1867.
Early life
Henry Slaymaker Magraw was born on December 17, 1815, in West Nottingham, Maryland, to Rebecca (née Cochran) and James Magraw. His father was a Presbyterian minister and founded the Presbyterian Church in West Nottingham.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicalcycl02nati/page/358/mode/2up |title=The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Maryland and District of Columbia |publisher=National Biographical Publishing Company |year=1878 |pages=359–360 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/twentiethcentury02unse_0/page/n355/mode/2up |title=The Bench and Bar of Pennsylvania |page=842 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/montanaitsstoryb02stou/page/874/mode/2up |title=Montana: Its Story and Biography |volume=2 |year=1921 |publisher=The American Historical Society |pages=520–521 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-letters-from-washingto/134147904/ |title=Letters from Washington |date=1867-02-01 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-26}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-aegis-death-of-hon-henry-s-magraw/134149020/ |title=Death of Hon. Henry S. Magraw |date=1867-02-08 |newspaper=The Aegis |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-26}}{{Open access}} He attended West Nottingham Academy. He studied law in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with John R. Montgomery and was admitted to the bar on December 1, 1838.
Career
Magraw moved to Pittsburgh. He was admitted to the bar in Allegheny County on February 4, 1839. He practiced law there with Robert McKnight.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-his-memory-revised/134152441/ |title=His Memory Revised |date=1885-10-28 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}} He was a Democrat. In 1845, he was the Democratic nominee for Mayor of Pittsburgh.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/york-gazette-the-democrats-of-the-city-o/134149607/ |title=The Democrats of the city of Pittsburg... |date=1845-01-07 |newspaper=York Gazette |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-26}}{{Open access}} He was appointed deputy attorney general of Allegheny County in 1845.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-appointment-by-the-a/134151909/ |title=Appointment by the Attorney Gen'l |date=1845-02-13 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}} He resigned the post in October 1848.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-mr-magraw-gave-noti/134152209/ |title=Mr. Magraw gave notice... |date=1848-10-24 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}
In 1850, Magraw moved to California and practiced law a year there. In 1852, he returned to Pennsylvania and worked as an attorney there until 1863. He was elected as State Treasurer of Pennsylvania and served in that role for three terms, from May 1, 1856, to May 1, 1859. He ran again in 1859, but lost to Eli Slifer.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-sentinel-state-treasurer-2/134152614/ |title=State Treasurer |date=1856-01-23 |newspaper=Democrat and Sentinel |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lancaster-examiner-house-19-jan-185/134152713/ |title=House |date=1859-01-19 |newspaper=Lancaster Examiner and Herald |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}
In July 1861, Magraw was present at the First Battle of Bull Run trying to retrieve the body of James Cameron. He was then imprisoned by the Confederates in Richmond, Virginia.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-remains-of-h-s-magra/134148817/ |title=Remains of H. S. Magraw |date=1867-02-04 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-26}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-letter-from-mr-magr/134152313/ |title=Letter from Mr. Magraw of Pennsylvania |date=1861-08-16 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}
In 1866, Magraw was elected as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Cecil County.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-hon-henry-s-magraw/134148646/ |title=Hon. Henry S. Magraw |date=1866-11-19 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-26}}{{Open access}}{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/house/html/cehouse.html |title=Historical List, House of Delegates, Cecil County (1790-1974) |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=2000-02-01 |access-date=2023-10-27}} He served with Alexander Evans, William Lindsey and George P. Whitaker. The four delegates were known as "The Big Four" due to their physical size.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cecil-whig-death-of-george-p-whitak/134026584/ |title=Death of George P. Whitaker |date=1891-01-03 |newspaper=Cecil Whig |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}}
Personal life
Magraw married Emily W. Hopkins. She was a descendant of George Ross, lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-aegis-died-1-apr-1870-the-aegis-2/134149451/ |title=Died |date=1870-04-01 |newspaper=The Aegis |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-26}}{{Open access}} They had four children, Adam R. (died 1908), Rebecca (died 1865), Henry Stephen and Emily. His son Henry Stephen was a state examiner of banks in Montana.
In 1862, Magraw moved back to West Nottingham and purchased his family's old home in West Nottingham.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-post-the-lancaster-intell/134152351/ |title=The Lancaster Intelligencer... |date=1862-05-15 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Post |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-27}}{{Open access}} He was a friend of James Buchanan. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. On January 29, 1867, Magraw had a stroke. He died on February 1, 1867, in Washington, D.C. He was buried at West Nottingham Cemetery.
References
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Category:Politicians from Cecil County, Maryland
Category:Lawyers from Pittsburgh
Category:State treasurers of Pennsylvania
Category:American Civil War prisoners of war held by the Confederate States of America
Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Category:19th-century American lawyers
Category:19th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly