Alexander S. Diven

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Alexander Samuel Diven (February 10, 1809 - June 11, 1896) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Born in Catharine (later Watkins), New York, Diven attended the common schools and the academies in Penn Yan and Ovid, New York. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1831 and commenced practice in Elmira. He served as member of the State senate in 1858.

Diven was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861-March 3, 1863). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1862. He entered the Army on August 13, 1862, as lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to colonel on October 21, 1862. He was granted leave of absence from the Army for ninety days to take his seat in Congress. Honorably discharged as colonel May 11, 1863. Brevetted brigadier general of Volunteers April 30, 1864. He engaged in railroad building and operation 1865-1875. Prominently identified with the Erie Railroad. He died in Elmira, New York, June 11, 1896. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.

[edit] References

• Alexander S. Diven at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress