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Josiah Gardner Abbott




Following his schooling, Abbott worked as a teacher and a lawyer, then became a member of the Massachusetts state house of representatives in 1836 and a member of the Massachusetts state senate from 1841 - 1842 . He was an aide to Governor Marcus Morton in 1843 . From 1850 to 1855 he was a master in Chancery . He also served as a member of the Massachusetts state constitutional convention, justice of the superior court for Suffolk County , an overseer of Harvard University, and several times was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for United States Senator .

In 1860 , Abboott declined an appointment to the United States Supreme Court , and in 1861 declined the Democratic nomination for state Attorney General . He finally was victorious as a Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives, and served from July 28 , 1876 - March 3 , 1877 . He was a member of the Electoral Commission created by the act of Congress approved January 29 , 1877 , to decide the Presidential Election Of 1876 .

He died in Wellesley Hills near Boston , and was interred in Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts .