Rufus Palen

Rufus Palen (February 25, 1807 – April 26, 1844) was an American manufacturer and politician in the U.S. state of New York. He represented New York in the United States House of Representatives.

Rufus Palen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 7th district
In office
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841
Preceded byJohn C. Brodhead
Succeeded byJohn Van Buren
Personal details
Born(1807-02-25)February 25, 1807
Palenville, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 26, 1844(1844-04-26) (aged 37)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting placeOld Cemetery
Palenville, New York
CitizenshipUS
Political partyWhig
ProfessionManufacturer
Politician

Biography

Palen was born in Palenville, New York and moved with his family as a child to Fallsburg.[1] He received limited schooling and became engaged in the tanning and manufacture of leather as head of Rufus Palen & Co., and a partner in Knapp & Palen, Palen & Flagler, and other companies. In addition, he was a partner in a general store under the company name Palen Foster & Co., and was active in other business ventures.

He held several political offices in New York, including postmaster of Palenville, and town board member, school supervisor, and district highway overseer for Fallsburg. He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth Congress, serving from March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841.[2]

Palen contracted tuberculosis during his term in Congress, and spent much of his time afterwards traveling outside the United States in an effort to improve his health. He died in New York City on April 26, 1844.[3] He is interred in the Old Cemetery in Palenville, New York.

Notes
  1. United States. Government Printing Office (1918). Congressional serial set. U.S. G.P.O. p. 905. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. United States. Congress, and Enyart, O. M. (1903). A Biographical Congressional Directory, 1774 to 1903: The Continental Congress: September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, Inclusive. The United States Congress: the First Congress to the Fifty-seventh Congress, March 4, 1903, Inclusive. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 130. Retrieved 24 July 2014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Congressional Quarterly, inc (2009). American Political Leaders 1789-2009. CQ Press. p. 210. ISBN 9781452267265. Retrieved 24 July 2014.


Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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