Horatio C. Newcomb

Horatio C. Newcomb (December 20, 1821—May 23, 1882) was an attorney and judge from Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.

Early life

Newcomb was born in Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pennsylvania. At some point the family moved to Cortland County, New York, and in 1833 the family moved to Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana. In 1836, Newcomb started as an apprentice in horse harness and saddle making.

Career

In 1841, Newcomb began to study law under his uncle, Judge William C. Bullock, the first attorney to set up practice in Jennings County. Newcomb was licensed to practice in 1844 and practiced in Vernon until 1846. He moved to Indianapolis and became a partner with Ovid Butler, Calvin Fletcher, and Simon Yandes.

In 1849, Newcomb was elected mayor of Indianapolis and reelected in 1851. He was elected to the Indiana General Assembly from Marion County in 1854 and to the Indiana State Senate in 1860. In 1861, he resigned and was appointed president of the Board of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund. In 1864, he became political editor of the Indianapolis Daily Journal. From 1864 to 1868, he was again elected to the General Assembly.

Newcomb resumed his law practice after retiring from political life. In 1871, Governor Conrad Baker made Newcomb a judge on the Superior Court of Marion County along with Solomon Blair and Frederick Rand. He was reelected to the position in 1878. Just a few days after the appointment, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior. He was a Republican. From 1880 to 1881, Newcomb served as president of the Indianapolis Bar Association.

Sources

• Nowland, John H. B., Sketches of prominent citizens of 1876, pp. 217–218 Google Books
• New York Times Obituary