Tilden, Samuel Jones

Samuel Jones (1814-1886), an American jurist and statesman. He was born at New Lebanon, New York. He was educated at Yale and at the University of the City of New York, receiving his degree in 1837. He was admitted to the bar in 1841. He had an enormous law practice. In 1855 it was said that over one-half the railways having offices in New York City were his clients.

While in college young Tilden took an interest in politics being a supporter of Martin Van Buren. In 1845 he entered the New York state legislature and took a hand in quieting the anti-rent uprising in the Mohawk Valley. From that time on he was recognized as an important member of the Democratic party, of which, in 1868, he became the acknowledged leader. Tilden was one of the most determined opponents of the "Tweed Ring," indeed he conducted the suits against Boss Tweed and that infamous combination.

Tilden was elected governor of New York in 1874, and two years later he was made the Democratic candidate for the presidency. He received a majority of the popular vote, but, as his supporters believe, the Republicans manipulated the returns in Louisiana and Oregon in such a way as to give his opponent a nominal majority in the electoral college.

Tilden bequeathed his large fortune, some $5,000,000, to New York City for the endowment of a public library. The will was contested in the courts and was broken. One of the heirs, Mrs. William B. Hazard, who was entitled by the decision to one-half the estate, declined to receive it, desiring that Mr. Tilden's wishes be carried out so far as lay in her power. The Tilden Trust Fund, as this bequest was called, was combined with the funds of the Astor Library and the Lenox Library for the support of a single New York Public Library. The Tilden bequest is now known as the Tilden Foundation. See Electoral Commission; Tweed