Carlos E. Dexter

Carlos E. Dexter, Jr. (1842 – May 7, 1919) was an American civil servant who served a Chief Usher of the White House in Washington, D.C., from March 1893 to December 1895.

Carlos E. Dexter
White House Chief Usher
In office
March 1893 – December 1895
PresidentGrover Cleveland
Preceded byJohn McKenna
Succeeded byWilliam Dubois
Personal details
Born1842
Three Rivers, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 7, 1919(1919-05-07) (aged 76–77)

Life and career

He was born in Three Rivers, Michigan,[1] about 1842. He grew up in Monterey and Heath, Michigan.[2][3] He served in the American Civil War as a soldier in Company G of the 6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, but was discharged on June 6, 1863, after being severely wounded.[4] Although his rank at the time of his discharge is not known,[4] he probably remained in the Michigan reserves. Press reports later in life listed his final rank as captain.[5] He married Adelia Dexter, and had several children, including daughters Birdie, Adelia (or "Addie"), and Maude and sons Carlos, Jr., George, and Paul.[6] In 1880 he was working as a sash and door manufacturer in Three Rivers.[7]

From 1882 to 1886, Dexter served as sheriff of St. Joseph County, Michigan.[8] In January 1888, United States Postmaster General Donald M. Dickinson appointed Dexter to the position of postal inspector.[9] He remained in this post until his resignation in August 1889.[10] In late March 1890 was appointed town marshal of the city of Three Rivers, Michigan.[11]

At some point after 1890, Dexter became an inspector for the United States Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. The patronage position was obtained from him by Henry T. Thurber, private secretary to President Grover Cleveland, and Postmaster General Dickinson.[12]

Dexter was appointed chief usher of the White House on March 20, 1893.[1] His tenure there was exceptionally brief, lasting until his resignation on December 3, 1895.[12]

Dexter's resignation was prompted by his reappointment as a postal inspector.[12] Dexter moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where in January 1896 he broke a postal fraud ring involving the United States Merchant Marine.[13] He later served as a postal inspector in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1899 he was transferred from Greensboro to New York City.[14]

Little is known of his later life or career. It is certain he was still alive in October 1918.[6] Carlos died in 1919 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers, Michigan.

References
  1. "A New Chief Usher". The Evening Star. March 20, 1893. p. 5.
  2. 1850 U.S. census
  3. 1860 U.S. census
  4. Johnson, Crisfield (1880). History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers. Philadelphia: D.W. Ensign & Co. p. 94.
  5. "The Greetings of the New Year, 1894". The Evening Star. January 1, 1894. p. 1.
  6. "Wills Filed". Brooklyn Daily Standard Union. October 3, 1918.
  7. 1880 U.S. census
  8. Cutler, H. G. History of St. Joseph County, Michigan. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. p. 93.
  9. "Abbreviated Telegrams". Elkhart Daily Review. August 10, 1889.
  10. "Wolverine Whisperings". Milford Times. January 28, 1888.
  11. "Current Events". The Piqua Daily Call. March 24, 1890. p. 5.
  12. "Capt. Dexter's Resignation". The Evening Star. December 4, 1895. p. 1.
  13. "Postal Inspector Dexter Gathers In the Whole Official Force of the Merchant's Secret Service System". The Times From Philadelphia. January 4, 1896. p. 9.
  14. "Local News Items". The Greensboro Patriot. September 27, 1899.
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