George Cochrane Hazelton

George Cochrane Hazelton (January 3, 1832 – September 4, 1922) was an American attorney and politician. He represented Wisconsin in the United States House of Representatives for the 45th, 46th, and 47th U.S. congresses, and was the first appointed attorney general of the District of Columbia.

For the American actor and playwright, see George Cochrane Hazelton (actor).
George Cochrane Hazelton
1st Attorney General of the District of Columbia
In office
1889–1893
Appointed byBenjamin Harrison
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded bySidney J. Thomas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 3rd district
In office
March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883
Preceded byHenry S. Magoon
Succeeded byBurr W. Jones
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 16th district
In office
January 6, 1868 – January 1, 1872
Preceded byJohn H. Rountree
Succeeded byJohn Chandler Holloway
Personal details
BornJanuary 3, 1832
Chester, New Hampshire, U.S.
DiedSeptember 4, 1922(1922-09-04) (aged 90)
Chester, New Hampshire, U.S.
Resting placeVale Cemetery, Schenectady, New York
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ellen Van Antwerp
​
(died 1884)​
Children
  • George Cochrane Halelton Jr.
  • John Hampden Hazelton
Relatives
Alma materUnion College
ProfessionLawyer, politician

Early life and education

Born in Chester, New Hampshire, Hazelton attended the district schools and prepared for college at Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire and Dummer Academy in Massachusetts. Hazelton graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 1858.[1] He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Malone, New York.

Career

Hazelton then settled at Boscobel, Wisconsin, where he became prosecuting attorney of Grant County, Wisconsin, from 1864 to 1868. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1867 and was reelected in 1869 and served as president pro tempore.[2]

Elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh congresses, representing Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district.[3] He was unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1882 and settled in Washington, D.C., where he practiced law and served as the attorney general for the District of Columbia during the Harrison administration.

Hazelton was among a large group of congressmen who advocated doctrines of racial superiority. He argued against the immigration of "unworthy" races, and said of the Chinese "I know that if the segment of her population now upon the Pacific shores is the standard and measure of her home civilization, it is of the lowest order.”[4]

Personal life
Ellen Van Antwerp

Hazelton was son of William and Mercy Jane Hazelton. His older brother, Gerry Whiting Hazelton, was also a member of Congress, and a prominent lawyer in Wisconsin. His nephew, Clark Betton Cochrane, was a member of Congress from New York.

He married Ellen Van Antwerp and they had two sons, George Jr. and John Hampden.[5]

Death

Hazelton died in Chester, New Hampshire, on September 4, 1922, at the age of 90. He is interred at Vale Cemetery, Schenectady, New York.

References
  1. "George Cochrane Hazelton". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  2. Hazelton, George (1881). History of Grant County, Wisconsin 1881. Chicago Western Historical Company.
  3. "George Cochrane Hazelton". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  4. 13 Cong. Rec. 2209-2210
  5. "George Cochrane Hazelton". 2014 Geni.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.


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