View source for Addison H. Laflin

{{Short description|American politician (1823–1878)}}
[[Image:Addison H. Laflin - Brady-Handy.jpg|thumb|Addison H. Laflin]]

'''Addison Henry Laflin''' (October 24, 1823 – September 24, 1878) was an American printmaker and politician. He served in the [[New York State Senate]] in 1858 and 1859.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/L000017 |title=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |publisher=Library of Congress |chapter=LAFLIN, Addison Henry (1823–1878) |access-date=2025-04-15}}</ref> He was then elected as a Republican to the [[United States Congress]], holding office from 1865 to 1871. 

==Early life==
Laflin was born in [[Lee, Massachusetts|Lee]], [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts]] on 24 October 1823,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=A Biographical Directory of the US Customs Service 1771-1989 |date=August 1985 |publisher=US Customs Service |edition=1st |location=Washington, D. C.}}</ref> the son of Walter Laflan, a prominent print maker.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=25 September 1878 |title=Ex Naval Officer Laflan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/71335325/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-04-15 |work=Harrisburg Daily Independent |pages=1}}</ref> He attended [[Common school|common schools]] and graduated from [[Williams College]], Massachusetts in 1843.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
Laflin moved to Herkimer, New York.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> With his brother, Bryon,<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Valente |first=A. J. |title=Rag Paper Manufacture in the United States 1801-1900: A History, with Directories of Mills and Owners |publisher=McFarland & Company Inc. |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7864-5863-9 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |pages=61–62 |language=en}}</ref> Laflin became a prominent paper manufacturer.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 Apr 1863 |title=Hemp Paper |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23tcAAAAIBAJ&dq=addison+laflin&pg=PA2&article_id=6176,901117 |access-date=2025-04-15 |work=The Providence Daily Evening Press}}</ref> He developed a method of watermarking using a wire belt.<ref name=":3" /> However, the method wasn't very popular and in 1857, they sold the Herkimer Mill for a sizeable sum of $70,000.<ref name=":3" /> 

Laflin served in [[New York State Senate]] (20th D.) in [[81st New York State Legislature|1858]] and [[82nd New York State Legislature|1859]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |title=History of Herkimer County, New York 1791-1879 |publisher=F. W. Beers & Co. |year=1879 |pages=69 |language=en}}</ref> He was elected as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] to the [[United States Congress]] and held office from March 4, 1865, to March 3, 1871.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He was also a delegate to the Republican state convention of 1867.<ref name=":0" />

Laflin was appointed Naval Officer of the Port of New York by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]]<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 Apr 1871 |title=From Washington: Nominations Confirmed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCVhAAAAIBAJ&dq=addison+laflin&pg=PA1&article_id=5777,1727164 |access-date={{today}} |work=The Morning Star |location=Providence, Rhode Island |pages=1}}</ref> on April 3, 1871.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He served in that position until he resigned in 23 January 1877.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> 

== Death ==
Laflin who had been ill, died of suicide in [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts]] on 24 September 1878, aged 54.<ref name=":2" /> He was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery, [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-ny-sen}}
{{succession box | before = [[M. Lindley Lee]] | title = [[New York State Senate]] <br>20th District | years = 1858–1859 | after = [[Francis M. Rotch]]}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box |
  state=New York |
  district=20 |
  before=[[Ambrose W. Clark]] |
  after=[[Clinton L. Merriam]] |
  years=1865–1871}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laflin, Addison H}}
[[Category:1823 births]]
[[Category:1878 deaths]]
[[Category:Williams College alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party New York (state) state senators]]
[[Category:People from Lee, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Burials at Oakwood Cemetery (Syracuse, New York)]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]