History of Tioga County New York United States of America

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Alexander Samuel Diven, representative, was born in Catherine, Tioga county, N.Y., Feb. 10, 1809; son of Capt. John and Eleanor (Means) Diven; and grandson of Alexander Diven, who came from County Tyrone, Ireland, early in the eighteenth century. His father was a captain in the Revolutionary army and his mother was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Clark) Means, and a granddaughter of Robert and Jane (Irving) Means. Alexander's early education was acquired in the schools of his native town and in the academies at Penn Yan and Ovid. In 1830 he went to Elmira where he began his legal studies, completing them at Rochester, and maintaining himself in part by teaching school. He was admitted to the bar in 1833, practising in Angelica, N.Y., until 1845, and after that in Elmira, N.Y. He served in the state senate, 1858-59, and in 1860 was elected as a Republican a representative in the 37th congress. In the summer of 1862, at the personal solicitation of President Lincoln and Secretary Seward, he left his seat in congress and went to his home to aid in raising the 107th N.Y. regiment, of which he was made lieutenant-colonel. He reached the front in time to take part in the battle of Antietam and soon succeeded to the colonelcy of his regiment, continuing in command until after the battle of Chancellorsville in which the regiment took part. Soon after this battle he was commissioned by President Lincoln as brigadier-general by brevet, and was appointed assistant provost-marshal-general, being assigned to the western district of New York, with headquarters at Elmira. This position he continued to hold until the close of the war. He was prominently identified with the Erie railroad from an early period of its history, and in 1865 was elected its vice-president, which position he held until 1870. He resumed it again for a short time in 1872-73, and then he retired from active business. He was married in 1834 to Amanda M. Beers, and they had eight children. He was elected a fellow of the American society of civil engineers, June 16, 1870. The last years of his life were spent in retirement, his summers on his farm near Elmira and his winters on his estate on the St. John's river, Fla. He died in Elmira, N.Y., June 11, 1896.

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

History of Tioga County New York

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