George Zalmon Erwin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theNew York State Senate | |
| In office 1888–1893 | |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly | |
| In office 1882–1887 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1840-01-15)January 15, 1840 Madrid, New York, US |
| Died | January 16, 1894(1894-01-16) (aged 54) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Middlebury College (1865) |
| Signature | .png) |
George Zalmon Erwin (January 15, 1840 – January 16, 1894) was an American politician.
He was born on January 15, 1840, inMadrid, St. Lawrence County, New York.[1]
He was educated atSaint Lawrence Academy atPotsdam, New York. He graduated fromMiddlebury College in August 1865.[2] He studied law with the thenUnited States Attorney for the Northern District of New YorkWilliam A. Dart and Charles O. Tappan, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. He commenced practice in Potsdam, N.Y., and entered into partnership with Samuel B. Gordon in 1868. The same year he married Dart's daughter Caroline (b. 1842), but they had no children.[1] A year later, he succeeded his father-in-law as partner in the law firm of Dart & Tappan, and practiced for ten years under the firm name of Tappan & Erwin. In 1878, Tappan was elected to theNew York Supreme Court, and William A. Dart returned to Potsdam, N.Y., and resumed practice in partnership with Erwin under the name of Dart & Erwin.
Erwin was a member of theNew York State Assembly (St. Lawrence Co., 3rd D.) in1882,1883,1884,1885,1886 and1887. In 1884, allied withThomas C. Platt, he was a strong candidate for Speaker, but was defeated byTitus Sheard, the candidate of theWarner Miller faction. The following year, the Platt faction was victorious, and Erwin was electedSpeaker.
He was a member of theNew York State Senate (20th D.) from 1888 to 1893, sitting in the111th,112th,113th,114th,115th and116th New York State Legislature. In 1892–1893 he was the Republican minority leader of the State Senate. To him is due the credit of organizing the dairy department for suppressing the sale and manufacture ofoleomargarine. He secured the enactment of the bill preventing the sale of liquor in quantities of five gallons or more in towns having no license. In 1891, he was Chairman of the Committee on General Laws and made interesting investigations into the subject of electricity for lighting and power.
In the session of 1892, when Republican leader, he made a strong but unsuccessful fight against the re-apportionment of the state, and for his refusal to vote on an enumeration bill he and two other senatorswere declared guilty of contempt by Lt. Gov.William F. Sheehan and their names taken from the roll. But they were supported by the judiciary committee in their position, were purged of contempt and their names restored.
He was interested in various local industries. He was one of the proprietors and organizers of the Thatcher Manufacturing Company, and up to the time of his death was its vice-president. He helped to organize the High Falls Sulphite Pulp and Mining Co., and was its president.
He died on January 16, 1894, inPotsdam, New York at age 54.[3]
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ebenezer S. Crapser | New York State Assembly St. Lawrence County, 3rd District 1882–1887 | Succeeded by Michael H. Flaherty |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Speaker of the New York State Assembly 1885 | Succeeded by |
| New York State Senate | ||
| Preceded by | New York State Senate 20th District 1888–1893 | Succeeded by |