Flower, Roswell P.

Description

Autograph ID: 4484
Condition: Very good, 2 slight thin spots at top left corner
Description: “(1835-1899) 30th Governor of New York 1892-94. In 1853, he became Deputy Postmaster of Watertown, New York, at a salary of $600 a year, and after 6 years saved $1,000 and opened a jewelry store with a partner. Two years later, he bought his partner out, and continued in this business until 1869. In 1869, Henry Keep, a former President of the New York Central Railroad, was dying and asked Flower, whose wife was a sister of Keep's wife, to manage the $4M estate for his widow. The business brought Flower to New York City where he became known as a shrewd financial administrator, and opened the banking house of R. P. Flower & Co. He was elected as a Democrat to the 47th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Levi P. Morton upon his appointment as Minister to France, and served Dec. 5, 1881-March 3, 1883. He was elected to the 51st and 52nd Congresses, and served from March 4, 1889, to Sept. 16, 1891, when he resigned upon his nomination for Governor. He was the last governor to serve a 3-year term. During his term he signed into law the creation of the City of Niagara Falls. A monument to Flower, designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1902, is in Watertown, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.”
Type: Signed Card