Silas H. Jennison

Silas Hemenway Jennison
Silas Hemenway Jenison (or Jennison), circa 1837
14th Governor of Vermont
In office 1835–1841
Lieutenant	David M. Camp (1836 on)
Preceded by	William A. Palmer
Succeeded by	Charles Paine
Personal details
Born	(1791-05-17)May 17, 1791 Shoreham, Vermont
Died	September 30, 1849(1849-09-30) (aged 58) Shoreham, Vermont
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Marilla Hanks Bush

Silas Hemenway Jennison (May 17, 1791 – September 30, 1849) was an American Whig politician,

Biography

Jennison was born in Shoreham, Vermont to Levi Jennison and Ruth Hemenway. He helped his mother run the farm which his father had cleared and attended the local schools sporadically and had some private tutoring. He learned surveying which he pursued throughout his political career.^[1] He married Marilla Hanks Bush on May 3, 1814 and they had five children; Lurana Sandford, Levi, Ruth, Sara Cary and Laura Louisa.^[2]

Career

Jennison was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1829 to 1835. He was an Addison County Court Judge from and a member of the State Executive Council from 1829 to 1835. He was elected the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. In the 1835 Governor's race, after 63 inconclusive votes, the legislators decided to let the newly elected Lieutenant Governor act as Governor until the next election. ^[3]

The first native-born Governor of Vermont, Jennison was the 14th Governor of Vermont from 1835 to 1841.

In 1837, the incumbent Vermont State Treasurer, Augustine Clarke, failed to receive the majority of votes required by the Vermont Constitution. In such cases, the Vermont General Assembly is empowered to elect a candidate. The legislature was split between Anti-Masons, Whigs and Democrats, failed to choose a winner. Jennison, an Anti-Mason who had run with Whig support, then appointed Allen Wardner, an Anti-Mason. Wardner served until 1838.

He declined reelection in 1840 and moved to the office of Judge of Probate in 1841 and served there until 1847.^[4]

Jennison was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1843. The Addison County Agricultural Society was organized on January 22, 1844, and Jennison was the first president.^[5]

Death

After protracted sickness and suffering, Jennison died on September 30, 1849 in Shoreham, Vermont. He is interred at Jenison Cemetery, Shoreham, Vermont.^[6]

References

Further reading

• Vermont Historical Magazine, No. XI, October 1867, p 101

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Silas H. Jennison.

• http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/jennison-jewell.html
• http://www.leg.state.vt.us/HouseClerk/History%20of%20Elected%20Officials%20Site/Lieutenant%20Governors%20List.htm
• http://www.heywoods.info/j/SJennison08.html
• National Governors Association
• Find A Grave

v t e Governors of Vermont Republic of Vermont (1777–1791) Chittenden Robinson Chittenden State of Vermont (since 1791) Chittenden Brigham Tichenor I. Smith Tichenor Galusha M. Chittenden Galusha Skinner Van Ness Butler Crafts Palmer Jennison Paine Mattocks Slade Eaton Coolidge Williams E. Fairbanks Robinson Royce Fletcher Hall E. Fairbanks Holbrook G. Smith P. Dillingham Page Washburn Hendee Stewart Converse Peck H. Fairbanks R. Proctor Sr. Farnham Barstow Pingree Ormsbee W.P. Dillingham Page Fuller Woodbury Grout E. Smith Stickney McCullough Bell F. Proctor Prouty Mead Fletcher Gates Graham Clement Hartness R. Proctor Jr. Billings Weeks Wilson C. Smith Aiken Wills M. Proctor Gibson Arthur Emerson Johnson Stafford Keyser Hoff Davis Salmon Snelling Kunin Snelling Dean Douglas Shumlin Italics indicate acting governor