Gamaliel H. Barstow

Gamaliel Henry Barstow
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th district
In office March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833
Preceded by	Thomas Maxwell
Succeeded by	Samuel Clark
New York State Treasurer
In office 1825–1828
Governor	Dewitt Clinton
Preceded by	Abraham Keyser, Jr.
Succeeded by	Abraham Keyser, Jr.
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Tioga County district
In office 1823–1826
New York State Senate western district
In office 1819–1822
Member of the New York State Assembly from the Tioga County district
In office January 1, 1816 – December 31, 1818
Preceded by	Caleb Baker
Succeeded by	Henry Wells
Personal details
Born	July 20, 1784 (1784-07-20) Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut
Died	March 30, 1865 (1865-03-31) (aged 80) Nichols, Tioga County, New York
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Democratic–Republican Anti-Mason Whig
Spouse	Nancy Coryell Barstow
Children	Elijah Barstow Mary Barstow John Barstow
Profession	physician judge politician

Gamaliel Henry Barstow (July 20, 1784 – March 30, 1865) was a physician, an American politician, a judge, and a U.S. representative for New York.

Biography

Barstow was born in Sharon, Litchfield County, Connecticut. He married Nancy Coryell and they had three children, Elijah, Mary, and John. He studied medicine in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Career

In 1812, Barstow moved to Tioga County, and there worked at his father's farm and taught school. Within a year he had become good friends with Judge Coryell (a powerful and influential figure in local politics) and by 1813 had married the Judges' daughter Nancy. He then built the first frame house in the town of Nichols, and opened a store at this location.

Barstow was a member of the New York State Assembly (Tioga Co.) in 1816, 1816-17 and 1818. He was First Judge of the Tioga County Court from 1818 to 1823, and at the same time a member of the New York State Senate (Western D.) from 1819 to 1822, sitting in the 42nd, 43rd, 44th and 45th New York State Legislatures. By 1823, he was ready for a bigger house so he bought a parcel of land and built a magnificent two-story brick New England style home which now, 175 years later, houses the current establishment, The Barstow House Restaurant. He was again a member of the State Assembly in 1824 and 1827. He was New York State Treasurer from 1825 to 1826. In 1830, he was Town Supervisor of the Town of Nichols.

Elected as an Anti-Mason to the 22nd United States Congress, Barstow was U.S. Representative for the twenty-fifth district of New York from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1833.

In 1836, he was the Whig candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York on the ticket with Jesse Buel, but they were defeated by the incumbent Governor Marcy and Lt. Gov. John Tracy. Barstow was again State Treasurer from 1838 to 1839. Afterward, he continued the practice of medicine and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Nichols, New York, where he died on March 30, 1865, aged 80. He was buried at the Ashbury Cemetery there.

External links

• United States Congress. "Gamaliel H. Barstow (id: B000194)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pp. 35, 201, 206, 257 and 365; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) (Google Books)