Samuel C. Hyde

Samuel C. Hyde (April 22, 1842 – March 7, 1922) was an American attorney and politician from Washington. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as prosecuting attorney of Spokane County from 1880 to 1886 and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1895 to 1897.

Early life

Samuel Clarence Hyde was born in Ticonderoga, New York on April 22, 1842, a son of Eli N. and Susan S. Hyde.<ref name="Summons">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Edwards">Template:Cite book</ref> He was a twin, and his sister Salina Clarissa died when she was eight months old.<ref name="Edwards"/> When Hyde was three, his parents relocated to a farm near Oshkosh in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, where Hyde was raised and educated.<ref name="Edwards"/>

Start of career

In December 1861, Hyde enlisted in the Union Army for the American Civil War.<ref name="Edwards"/> He joined Company K, 17th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a private, with his enlistment credited to the town of Utica in Winnebago County.<ref name="Edwards"/> Hyde attained the rank of sergeant and served until July 1862, when he was discharged for disability.<ref name="Edwards"/>

After leaving the army, Hyde worked as an explorer and surveyor of timber and mining lands in Michigan's upper peninsula.<ref name="Edwards"/> In 1871, he began to farm in Lyon County, Iowa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the early 1870s, he attended Iowa State University, where he studied law.<ref name="Edwards"/> He was admitted to the bar in 1872, and began to practice in Rock Rapids, Iowa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition to practicing law, Hyde was publisher of the Lyon County Press newspaper.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hyde also became active in politics as a Republican, and served as chairman of the party's central committee in Lyon County, Iowa.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Continued career

In 1877, Hyde moved to Washington Territory, and he resided and practiced law in both Seattle and Tacoma.<ref name="Edwards"/> In 1879, he relocated to Spokane, where he continued practicing law.<ref name="Summons"/> As an early resident of Spokane, Hyde was one of its developers, including construction and management of several commercial buildings.<ref name="Summons"/> In 1881, he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Spokane County and Stevens County, and he served in this position for six years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1894, Hyde was the successful Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's at-large congressional district.<ref name="Summons"/> He served in the 54th Congress, March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1897.<ref name="Summons"/> During his Congressional term, Hyde successfully advocated for construction of the Fort George Wright army base near Spokane.<ref name="Summons"/> Hyde was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 and resumed practicing law in Spokane.<ref name="Summons"/> He was a longtime justice of the peace and heard cases in Spokane's justice court until retiring for ill health shortly before his death.<ref name="Summons"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Death and burial

Hyde died in Spokane on March 7, 1922.<ref name="Summons"/> He was buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Spokane.<ref name="Obituary">Template:Cite news</ref> Hyde's funeral took place at Spokane's Central Methodist Church, and he received funeral honors from members of the local Grand Army of the Republic post.<ref name="Obituary"/>

Family

In 1869, Hyde married Mattie A. Rogers (1850-1891) of Rosendale, Wisconsin.<ref name="Summons"/> They were married until her death, and were the parents of two children, daughter Katherine and son Earl.<ref name="Summons"/> Hyde's siblings included E. B. Hyde, a Spokane banker and real estate developer who also served in the Washington State Senate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Find a Grave