Henry S. De Forest

Henry S. DeForest, Congressman from New York

Henry Schermerhorn De Forest (February 16, 1847 – February 13, 1917) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Biography

Henry Schermerhorn DeForest was born in Schenectady, New York on February 16, 1847. He attended the Union Classical Institute in Schenectady and graduated in 1864 from Poughkeepsie's Eastman Business College.

DeForest was a farmer, and specialized in the production of broom corn. He was also successful businessman, with interests including real estate, which made him the city's largest landlord. He was also a building contractor, with his company constructing more than 1,000 homes in the Schenectady area. In addition, he was active in banking as a board of directors member for the Citizens' Trust Companies. After the advent of the automobile, DeForest owned a Pierce dealership in Schenectady.

In 1876, DeForest married Lucie E. Van Epps, and they were the parents of two daughters, Beulah and Pearl. Beulah was the wife of William Howard Wright. Pearl was the wife of George Kellogg Morris.

He served as Schenectady's City Recorder from 1883 to 1885. He served as Mayor from 1885 to 1887 and 1889 to 1891. As Mayor he successfully advocated for General Electric to locate in Schenectady when it was formed from the mergers of several other companies, including Edison Machine Works, which had moved to Schenectady in 1886. As a result of his efforts, the expanded GE located in Schenectady in 1892.

DeForest was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-second Congress (March 4, 1911 to March 3, 1913). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912 to the Sixty-third Congress.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth Congress and for election in 1916 to the Sixty-fifth Congress.

DeForest died in Schenectady on February 13, 1917. He was interred in Vale Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "Henry S. De Forest (id: D000189)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 
• Henry S. De Forest at Find a Grave

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.