Alexander Woodruff Buel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From Volume 3 of 1915'sHistory of Michigan | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | Robert McClelland |
| Succeeded by | Ebenezer J. Penniman |
| Member of theMichigan House of Representatives | |
| In office 1859–1860 | |
| In office 1848–1848 | |
| In office 1838–1838 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1813-12-13)December 13, 1813 Castleton, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | April 19, 1868(1868-04-19) (aged 54) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery Detroit, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Julia Maria Buel Trowbridge Mary B. Buel Wetmore Clara B. Buel Mercur Delia W. Buel Lydecker |
| Alma mater | University of Vermont Middlebury College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature | .png) |
Alexander Woodruff Buel (December 13, 1813 – April 19, 1868) was an American lawyer and politician from the U.S. state ofMichigan. ADemocrat, he was most notable for his service as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851 and his multiple terms as a member of theMichigan House of Representatives.
Buel was born inCastleton, Vermont, and exhibited precocious intellectual abilities. He attended the public schools inPoultney, Vermont, until the age of eight, at which time he began an accelerated course of studies preparing for college under the private tutelage of Henry Howe, the former principal of the Canandaiga Academy inCanandaigua, New York. In 1824, at the age of 10, he passed the admission exams forMiddlebury College inMiddlebury, Vermont, and was admitted to the college. However, concerned about the difference in age between Buel and the other college students, his teacher and family persuaded him to continue his independent studies for three years. In 1827, at the age of 13, Buel accompanied one of his teachers and was enrolled as a sophomore at theUniversity of Vermont inBurlington, where he stayed for one year. In 1828, he decided to attend Middlebury College, which was his original intent. He was enrolled there as a junior and also taught at the common schools inClarendon.[1]
In August 1830, at the age of 16, Buel graduated from Middlebury College ranked first in his class. In September 1830, he became superintendent of a classical academy inWest Rutland. In November 1831, he was invited to become principal of a classical academy atFort Covington in northern New York, where he also began to study law. In December, 1832, he returned to his father's residence in Castleton and continued his study of law while also teaching at theCastleton Academy.
In October 1834, Buell moved toDetroit, Michigan, and within two months became Deputy Register of the Court of Probate. Because of his language skills, he was able to converse with the many French speakers native to Detroit at the time, as well as the increasing number of German immigrants. Headmitted to the bar in the spring of 1835 and commenced practice in Detroit.
Buel was city attorney in 1837 and a member of theMichigan State House of Representatives in 1838 and again in 1848, serving as speaker the latter year. He was the prosecuting attorney forWayne County 1843–1846.
Buel first ran for theUnited States House of Representatives inMichigan's 1st congressional district in 1846, but lost in a close election. In 1848, Buel was elected as aDemocrat from Michigan's 1st district to theUnited States Congress for theThirty-first Congress, succeeding fellow DemocratRobert McClelland who did not run. Buel served from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1851. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to theThirty-second Congress and resumed the practice of law. He was again a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives in 1859 and 1860. He was appointedpostmaster of Detroit on September 28, 1860, and served until March 18, 1861.[2]
Buel died at his home in Detroit on April 19, 1868 (age 54 years, 128 days).[3] He is interred atElmwood Cemetery, Detroit.
Buel was the son of Ezekial and Sally Thompson Buel. He married Mary Ann Ackley of West Rutland, Vermont, in October 1836, and they raised four daughters, one of whom was Julia Maria Buel Trowbridge. On April 8, 1862, she married Gen. Luther Stephen Trowbridge (Buel's law partner).[4] The others were: Mary B., wife of Charles H. Wetmore; Clara B., wife of Col. James Mercur; and Delia W., wife of Gen.Garrett J. Lydecker.[1]
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| Preceded by | United States Representative for the 1st congressional district of Michigan 1849–1851 | Succeeded by |
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