Stephen Selwyn Harding

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Stephen Selwyn Harding (1808-1891) was the Governor of the Utah Territory for the Liberal Party 1862-1863, chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court 1863-1865, and ardent abolitionist.

[edit] Early years

He was born in Palmyra, New York, on February 28 1808, the eldest son of David and Abigail Harding. In 1820 he moved with his family to Ripley County, Indiana. He studied law in the office of William R. Morris in Brookville, Indiana and became licensed to practice law on March 17, 1828. He then opened a law office in Richmond, Indiana which remained open for six months when he opened one in Versailles, Indiana. He married Avoline Sprout on October 31, 1830. The couple had ten children.

[edit] Political career

He stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in 1842 and for Governor of Indiana in 1846. He was appointed Governor of Utah Territory by Abraham Lincoln in 1862. When he took office he tried to appease the Mormon community but soon became critical of church leaders and the practise of polygamy. This resulted in a successful petition for his removal from office. He was then appointed as U.S. consul at Valparaiso, Chile; he decided instead, for domestic reasons, to serve as chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. In 1865 he was removed from office for alleged incompetence and immorality. He died on February 12, 1891 in Milan, Ripley County, Indiana and was buried in Old Milan Cemetery

[edit] External links

• [1] The Manuscripts of S.S. Harding

Preceded by John W. Dawson

Governor of Utah Territory 1862–1863

Succeeded by James Duane Doty