ALDRICH, Cyrus, a Representative from Minnesota;
born in Smithfield, R.I., June 18, 1808; attended the common schools; followed the occupations of sailor, boatman,
farmer, contractor on public works, and mail contractor;
moved to Illinois and settled in Alton in 1837; member of
the State house of representatives 1845-1847; register of
deeds of Jo Daviess County 1847-1849; receiver of the
United States land office at Dixon, Ill., 1849-1853; moved
to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1855 and engaged in the lumber
business; member of the State constitutional convention in
1857; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth and Thirtyseventh Congresses (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1863); chairman, Committee on Indian Affairs (Thirty-seventh Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1862; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1863 to the United States
Senate; member of the State house of representatives in
1865; elected chairman of the board of supervisors of the
town of Minneapolis in 1865; appointed by President Lincoln
in 1863 one of the commissioners to examine claims for
indemnity of those who had suffered from the Sioux War
of 1862; postmaster of Minneapolis, Minn., from September
11, 1867, until April 15, 1871, when a successor was appointed; died in Minneapolis, Minn., October 5, 1871; interment in Lakewood Cemetery.
