Walter Cass Newberry (December 23, 1835 – July 20, 1912) was a
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...
from
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
.
Biography

Newberry was born in
Waterville, New York
Waterville (called ''Ska-na-wis'', "''long swamp''" by the Haudenosaunee) is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 1,473.
History
Long the traditional territory of the Iroquoian-sp ...
and enlisted in the
Union Army during the
Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
as a private in the Eighty-first Regiment, New York Volunteers. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1861,
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
in 1862,
major
Major most commonly refers to:
* Major (rank), a military rank
* Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits
* People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames
* Major and minor in musi ...
of the Twenty-fourth Regiment, New York Cavalry, in 1863,
lieutenant colonel and
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in 1864, and was
brevetted
brigadier general March 31, 1865.
He moved to
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 33,458 with a majority bla ...
in 1865, and served as mayor of Petersburg in 1869 and 1870, resigning in the latter year. He moved to
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
in 1870, and was superintendent of public property for the state for four years.
He moved to
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
, Illinois, in 1876, and was
postmaster of Chicago in 1888 and 1889. Newberry was elected as a
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY)
**Democratic Part ...
to the
Fifty-second Congress (March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1892.
He died in Chicago on July 20, 1912, and was interred in
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large historic garden cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park R ...
.
Source material
*''10,000 Famous Freemasons from K to Z'', Volume 3, Page 262, By William R. Denslow, Harry S. Truman
References
External links
Walter Cass Newberry Papersat
Newberry Library
The Newberry Library is an independent research library, specializing in the humanities. It is located in Chicago, Illinois, and has been free and open to the public since 1887. The Newberry's mission is to foster a deeper understanding of our wo ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newberry, Walter Cass
1835 births
1912 deaths
Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago)
Union army colonels
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois
People from Waterville, New York
Postmasters of Chicago
19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives