january october american businessman politician massachusetts served terms united_states house_of_representatives 28th governor massachusetts won election united_states senate special election succeed recently deceased moderate republican partially supported radical republican agenda american civil war followed yale graduate early business success furniture manufacture banking railroads based connecticut river valley town major proponent railroads northern western massachusetts sitting board years playing oversight role construction described day connecticut river god role leading regional businessman politician early life born january massachusetts whitney father hat maker family deep colonial roots governor massachusetts distant cousin died educated attended graduating member employed store clerk business uncle orange established chair factory operating dollars investment wood products business annual production exceeded board sat moved elected president later post hold rest life married couple children surviving adulthood political career won election served years elections state legislature supported proponents ran congress republican winning election 38th congress opposition reelected times winning time wide margins viewed relatively moderate comparison delegation served chairman 41st congress ran governor massachusetts republican_party dominant state politics number known politicians party nomination replace outgoing governor prominent congressman american_civil_war general disliked conservative state republican establishment support continued issuance currency backed silver gold frequently populist tactics upset convention proceedings butler opponents eventually united nomination won general election vote margin labor candidate reelected terms despite republican ranks resulted splitting fielded convention particularly affected actions butler supporters prevailed comfortably reelected victories butler conventions marked low point career major event tenure governor destroyed acres prime commercial real estate city november legislature called special session enable provision state assistance measures passed included bill establishment insurance companies blaze bill authorizing city issue bonds speed rebuilding effort brought new round state funding fund final completion state alcohol prohibition laws establishments new prison concord mental hospital salem signed legislation establishing women supporter women suffrage matter seriously considered legislature term supported legislation reforming state child labor education laws widely opposed enactment labor bill limiting work hours day subject regular labor tenure united_states senator died march state senate chose state senators met choose replacement long contentious debate involving thirty ballots chosen succeed compromise candidate acceptable supporters resigned governorship leaving lieutenant governor acting governor served april term ended march refused run reelection activities long leaving governorship appointed state commission established investigate finances operations construction originally estimated million instead cost million financing involvement state complete commission filed report legislature served times trustee yale funded harvard_university conferred law degree member number missionary societies major estate funding construction building funds died springfield massachusetts october attending session member buried
William B. Washburn