Samuel Fenton Cary (February 18, 1814 – September 29, 1900) was an American politician who was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio and significant temperance movement leader in the 19th century. Cary became well known nationally as a prohibitionist author and lecturer.
Cary was admitted to the bar in 1837, practicing law out of his in office in Cincinnati.[2] He was elected a judge in the Ohio State Supreme Court, but decided to pass on the position, continuing to practice law.[2]
He stopped working in law in 1845 to become a farmer and also to devote himself to temperance and anti-slavery groups.[2] He gave lectures and wrote books on prohibition and slavery matters. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1864 supporting Abraham Lincoln for a second term.[2] Cary served as paymaster general for the State of Ohio under Governors Bartley and Bebb.[2] He then became Collector of Internal Revenue for Ohio's first district in 1865.[2]
Frank Page, the founder and first mayor of Cary, North Carolina, named the town after Cary because he admired Cary's temperance speech given in the community previously.[3]
Personal
Cary was twice married. First to Maria Louisa Allen on October 18, 1836; she died of consumption on September 25, 1847. They had three children: Martha Louisa Cary, Ella Woodnutt Cary and Lou Allen Cary. In 1849, he married Lida Stillwell.[1] They had three children: Olive Cary, Samuel Fenton Cary Jr., and Jessie Cary.
* Alternately named Economic and Educational Opportunities in 104th Congress and Education and the Workforce in 105th through 109th and 112th through 115th Congresses.