Biography

06/28/1825 - 03/13/1899

Private Charles Henderson Stinson, Sr. (R5) Chester, Delaware, Montgomery Counties, 1867-1870

Early Life: 

Private Charles Henderson Stinson, Sr., born June 28, 1825, Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; son of Robert M. and Elizabeth Porter Stinson, local schools education; John McNair’s Select School, Abbington, 1840; Dickinson College honors, 1845; understudy, George Stinson (brother) law practice, 1847-1848; admitted, Montgomery County bar, 1849, established, private law practice, Montgomery County, 1849; married, Emily Freedly, 1855; son, C. (Charles) Henry Stinson; enlisted, private, Civil War, Montgomery Volunteers, 1863; organized, solicitor, First National Bank of Norristown, 1864; resumed, legal practice, Montgomery County,1865; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1867-1870, elected, Pennsylvania State Senate Speaker, 1869-1870; appointed, president judge, Montgomery County Court, 1882; appointed, trustee, Hospital for the Insane, Southeastern District of Pennsylvania; elected, president, Hospital for the Insane, Southeastern District of Pennsylvania; died, March 10, 1899 (aged 73) Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; interment, Montgomery Cemetery, West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania 

Early Career:

Enlisted, private, Civil War, emergency company, Montgomery Volunteers, mustered in June 10, 1863, mustered out August 10, 1863, Gettysburg campaign.

Organized, First National Bank of Norristown, 1864; Counsel, Pennsylvania Railroad, Southeastern Pennsylvania region.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 5th district, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery Counties, 1867-1870, elected, Pennsylvania State Senate Speaker, 1869-1870; committee assignments, 1868: Accounts (Chairman) Canals and Inland Navigation Judiciary Local; Estates and Escheats (Chairman, 1869), served second chair on Judiciary (1869) under Chairman Harry White. 

Appointment, Governor Henry Martyn Hoyt, Sr., president judge, Thirty-eighth Judicial District, Judge Henry Ross, vacancy, death, 1882.

Legacy:

His sister, Doctor Mary H. Stinson, one of nation’s first women physicians; founder, Stinson Home for Aged Women, Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members S". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1868). Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 276, 280-282.

Charles Henderson Stinson (1825-1899) - Find a Grave Memorial