# Cyrus Aldrich > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyrus_Aldrich > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyrus_Aldrich.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_Aldrich > Source revision: 1329606853 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1808–1871)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cyrus Aldrich | image = Cyrus Aldrich (Minnesota Congressman).jpg | alt = | caption = Aldrich in an 1899 publication | order = | office = | term_start = | term_end = | alongside = | predecessor = | successor = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1808|6|18}} | birth_place = [Smithfield, Rhode Island](/source/Smithfield%2C_Rhode_Island), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1871|10|5|1808|6|18}} | death_place = [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), Minnesota, U.S. | resting_place = [Lakewood Cemetery](/source/Lakewood_Cemetery) | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) | spouse = {{marriage|Clara A. Heaton|1845}} | children = 4 | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | signature = }} '''Cyrus Aldrich''' (June 18, 1808 – October 5, 1871) was an American politician who served as a [U.S. Representative](/source/U.S._Representative) from [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota). ==Early life== Cyrus Aldrich was born on June 18, 1808, in [Smithfield, Rhode Island](/source/Smithfield%2C_Rhode_Island). He attended common schools.{{Cite web |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/A000081 |title=Aldrich, Cyrus |work=[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress) |access-date=2025-08-21}} ==Career== Aldrich worked as a sailor, boatman, farmer, contractor on public works, and mail contractor, before moving to [Illinois](/source/Illinois) and settling in [Alton](/source/Alton%2C_Illinois) in 1837. In Alton, he was member of the [Illinois House of Representatives](/source/Illinois_House_of_Representatives) from 1845 to 1847. He served as register of deeds of [Jo Daviess County](/source/Jo_Daviess_County) from 1847 to 1849. Aldrich moved to [Minneapolis, Minnesota](/source/Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota), in 1855 and engaged in the lumber business, and was elected as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(U.S.)) to the [Thirty-sixth](/source/36th_United_States_Congress) and [Thirty-seventh congresses](/source/37th_United_States_Congress) (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863) where he was chairman of the [Committee on Indian Affairs](/source/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Indian_Affairs) (Thirty-seventh Congress). Aldrich was not a candidate for renomination in 1862; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1863 to the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate). He became a member of the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) in 1865 and he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors of the town of [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis) in 1865. He was appointed by President [Abraham Lincoln](/source/Abraham_Lincoln) in 1863 as one of the commissioners to examine claims for indemnity of those who had suffered from the [Dakota War of 1862](/source/Dakota_War_of_1862). He was postmaster of Minneapolis from September 11, 1867, to April 15, 1871, when a successor was appointed. ==Personal life== Aldrich married Clara A. Heaton in 1845. The best man was [Elihu B. Washburne](/source/Elihu_B._Washburne). They had three daughters and one son, Henry C.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-pioneer-of-minneapolis-expi/179375759/ |title=Pioneer of Minneapolis Expires at Advanced Age |date=1912-08-23 |newspaper=The Minneapolis Morning Tribune |page=10 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |access-date=2025-08-21}}{{Open access}}{{citation needed |date=August 2025 |reason=daughters}} Aldrich died on October 5, 1871, in Minneapolis. He was buried in [Lakewood Cemetery](/source/Lakewood_Cemetery). ==Legacy== Aldrich is the namesake of the city of [Aldrich, Minnesota](/source/Aldrich%2C_Minnesota).{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n577 560]}} ==References== {{Reflist}} *[http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=12249 Minnesota Legislators Past and Present] {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{US House succession box | state = Minnesota | district = AL | years = March 3, 1859 – March 3, 1863 | before = [William Wallace Phelps](/source/William_Wallace_Phelps) and [James M. Cavanaugh](/source/James_M._Cavanaugh) | alongside = [William Windom](/source/William_Windom_(politician)) | after = District eliminated }} {{s-end}} {{MNRepresentatives}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Aldrich, Cyrus}} Category:1808 births Category:1871 deaths Category:People from Smithfield, Rhode Island Category:Politicians from Providence County, Rhode Island Category:Republican Party United States representatives from Minnesota Category:Minnesota postmasters Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Members of the Illinois House of Representatives Category:Politicians from Alton, Illinois Category:Businesspeople from Minneapolis Category:Politicians from Minneapolis Category:Burials at Lakewood Cemetery Category:19th-century United States representatives Category:19th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly Category:19th-century members of the Minnesota Legislature --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cyrus Aldrich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_Aldrich) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_Aldrich?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.