History of Waterville, (Oneida County) New York United States of America

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Walter Cass Newberry, representative, was born at Waterville, N.Y., Dec. 23, 1835; son of Col. Amasa S. and Cornelia Perry (Pangburn) Newberry; grandson of Amasa S. and Ruth (Warner) Newberry; great-grandson of Gen. Benjamin Newberry, commander of the Connecticut militia in the King Philip war, and a descendant of Thomas and Hannah Newberry of Dorchester colony, 1630. His father was U.S. loan commissioner under President Polk and represented the Oneida district in the New York legislature. He attended the academies at Cazenovia and Geneva, N.Y., and removed to Detroit, Mich., where he entered the commercial house of his uncle, Oliver Newberry. He enlisted as a private in the 81st New York volunteers; was promoted lieutenant in 1861; captain in 1862; major of the 24th New York cavalry in 1863; lieutenant-colonel and colonel in 1864, and was brevetted brigadier-general, March 31, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service at Dinwiddie Court House, where he was severely wounded. He removed to Petersburg, Va., in September, 1865; was elected mayor of that city in 1869, and subsequently superintendent of public property for the state for four years. He removed to Chicago, Ill., in 1876 and engaged in business as a merchant; was postmaster of Chicago, 1888-89, and a Democratic representative in the 52d congress, 1891-93. He became a trustee of the Newberry library, founded by his uncle, Walter Loomis Newberry, and trustee, executor and agent of the family estate in Chicago.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Waterville, (Oneida County) New York

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