The Biographical Dictionary of America/Aldrich, William Farrington

ALDRICH, William Farrington, representative, was born in Palmyra, N.Y., March 11, 1853; son of William and Louisa (Klapp) Aldrich; grandson of Nathan Aldrich, and a descendant of Bishop Aldrich of Oxford, England. He was educated at the public schools of Palmyra, removed with his father to New York city in 1865, and was graduated in civil engineering at Warren's military academy, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1873. In 1874 he removed to Alabama, where he engaged in mining and established the mining town of Aldrich in Shelby county, Ala. He was nominated by the Republicans and endorsed by the Populists in 1894 as representative from the 4th district of Alabama in the 54th congress. The certificate of election was given to his Democratic opponent, Gaston A. Robbins, and Mr. Aldrich contested the seat on the ground of fraud in the returns and March 13, 1896, he was seated, serving till the close of the 54th congress, March 3, 1897. He was renominated for the 55th congress and claimed re-election in 1896. Thomas Scales Plowman, Democrat, was given the certificate and Mr. Aldrich again successfully contested the election, and was seated Feb. 9, 1898. In 1898 he was a candidate for the 56th congress, and his opponent, F. A. Robbins, received the certificate of election, claiming it by 1230 majority. Mr. Aldrich again contested the seat before the committee on privileges and elections in the 56th congress, where the case was decided in his favor, and he served 1899-1901.