Edmund O'Connor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edmund O'Connor
O'Connor in 1893
Member of the New York Senate from the 25th district
In office 1894–1895
Preceded by	John A. Nichols
Succeeded by	Charles Davis
Member of the New York Senate from the 24th district
In office 1890–1893
Preceded by	William Lewis
Succeeded by	Charles W. Stapleton
Personal details
Born	November 1848 near Mallow, County Cork, Ireland
Died	July 15, 1898(1898-07-15) (aged 49) Binghamton, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Occupation	Politician lawyer

Edmund O'Connor (born November 1848 in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland – died July 15, 1898, in Binghamton, Broome County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He served as a state senator and was the President pro tempore of the New York State Senate in 1895. This was a very important leadership role in the state government.

Early Life and Education

Edmund O'Connor moved to the United States with his parents when he was just three years old. His family settled in Little Falls, New York. When he was 14, his father passed away. To help support his family, Edmund started working at a railroad blacksmith shop.

Even while working, he continued his education. He studied at Little Falls Academy and later at Delhi Academy, graduating in 1868. After finishing school, he decided to become a lawyer. He studied law in the office of Judge Rollin H. Smith in Little Falls. In 1870, he passed his exams and became a lawyer in Oswego, New York. A few years later, in 1873, he moved to Binghamton. From 1880 onwards, he also served as a trustee for the Binghamton State Asylum, helping to oversee its operations.

Political Career in New York

Edmund O'Connor was a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to the New York State Senate, which is part of the state's government, serving from 1890 to 1895. During his time as a senator, he represented different districts: the 24th District from 1890 to 1893, and then the 25th District from 1894 to 1895.

In 1895, he achieved a significant leadership position: President pro tempore of the New York State Senate. This role means he was a top leader, often in charge of the Senate when the Lieutenant Governor was not present.

A Political Disagreement

During the 1892 session, when he was a Republican leader, Edmund O'Connor was involved in a major political disagreement. He strongly opposed a plan to change how the state's voting districts were set up. He believed this plan was unfair. Because of his strong opposition, he and two other senators refused to vote on a specific bill related to these changes.

This led to a big debate. The Lieutenant Governor at the time, William F. Sheehan, tried to remove their names from the official list of senators. However, a special committee that looked into the matter supported O'Connor and the other senators. They agreed that the senators had the right to stand by their beliefs. Because of this support, their names were put back on the official roll, and the issue was resolved.

Edmund O'Connor also had a brother, William O'Connor, who worked as a port warden for the Port of New York.

Sources

• [1] Political Graveyard
• [2] Obit in NYT on July 16, 1898