Silas Hare

Silas Hare
United States Congressman Texas 5th Congressional District
In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by	James W. Throckmorton
Succeeded by	Joseph W. Bailey
Texas Criminal Court District Judge Dallas County, Collin County, Grayson County
In office 1873–1876
Chief Justice Confederate States of America New Mexico
In office 1862–1862
Personal details
Born	November 13, 1827 Ross County, Ohio
Died	November 26, 1908 (aged 81) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Octavia Elizabeth Rector 1849–1890 (her death) Mary Louise Kennedy 1903–1908 (his death)
Children	Luther Rector Silas Jr Winnie Henry George Eula Unnamed infant
Profession	Lawyer

Silas Hare (November 13, 1827 – November 26, 1908)^[1] was a U.S. Representative from Texas.

Early years

Silas Hare Sr. was born in Ross County, Ohio, to Jacob and Elizabeth Freshour Hare on November 13, 1827, and lived the first fourteen years of his life with his grandfather Daniel Hare. His father died in 1835, and in 1841, Hare rejoined his mother and other family members in Hamilton County, Indiana, near Noblesville, where he attended common and private schools.^[2] He studied law in Noblesville, and was admitted to the Indiana Bar Association in 1850 and commenced practice in Noblesville, Indiana.

Hare moved to Belton, Texas, in 1853 where he continued the practice of law. In 1852, Hare began traveling to improve his health. He visited Mexico, Central America, Hawaii (at that time, the Sandwich Islands), Oregon.^[3]

Military service

Hare served during the Mexican-American War in the 1st Indiana Volunteers 1846 and 1847. At the Battle of Buena Vista, Hare was wounded by a lance.^[3]

During the Civil War Hare served as a captain in the Confederate States Army.^[4] He was appointed Captain and Quartermaster, later to attain the rank of Major in 1863, with the First Regiment of the Arizona Brigade stationed in Texas.

Public service

He served as Chief justice of New Mexico in 1862 under the Confederate Government. Hare settled in Sherman, Texas, in 1865 and resumed the practice of law. He served as district judge of the criminal court 1873–1876. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884.

Hare was elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth and Fifty-first Congresses (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1890.^[5]

In 1890, Hare resumed the practice of law in Washington, D.C.^[3]

Personal life and death

In 1849, he married Octavia Elizabeth Rector of Circleville, Ohio. The couple had seven children: West Point cadet Luther Rector;^[2][6] Silas Jr who followed his father in public service;^[7] in addition to Winnie, Henry, George, Eula, and one child who died in infancy. Octavia died June 5, 1890 and is interred at West Hill Cemetery in Sherman, Texas.^[8]

In 1903, the 76-year-old Hare married for a second time to 66-year-old Mary Louise Kennedy in a secret ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland taking his friends by surprise. The elopement left the New York Times speculating about the honeymoon, “They have not returned, and the ex-Congressman’s friends have no idea where they are.”^[9]

Silas Hare died in Washington, D.C. on November 26, 1908 and is interred with his first wife in Sherman, Texas.^[10]

Mary Louise Kennedy Hare died November 3, 1912.^[11]

References

1. "Ex-Congressman Silas Hare". The New York Times. 28 November 1908.
2. Trissal, Francis M (2010). Public Men of Indiana (reprint ed.). Nabu Press. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-146-85976-9.
3. Douglas, Elizabeth Blair: Silas Hare from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 5 July 2010.Texas State Historical Association
4. Adkins-Rochette, Patricia. "Arizona Brigade in North Texas". Retrieved 5 July 2010.
5. Guttery, Ben (2008). Representing Texas: a Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4196-7884-4.
6. Meketa, Raymond Thomas: Luther Rector Hare from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 5 July 2010.Texas State Historical Association
7. Douglas, Elizabeth Blair: Silas Hare Jr from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 5 July 2010.Texas State Historical Association
8. "Grave of Octavia Hare". Find a Grave. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
9. "Ex-Congressman Hare Weds". The New York Times. 31 December 1903.
10. "Grave of Silas Hare Sr". Find a Grave. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
11. "Mrs. Mary Louise Kennedy Hare". The New York Times. 5 November 1912.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Silas Hare (id: H000203)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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