Amherst B. Cheney | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Kent County 3rd district | |
| In office 1877–1880 | |
| Preceded by | Edward L. Briggs |
| Succeeded by | Heman Palmerlee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 27, 1841 Ripley, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | January 9, 1927 (aged 85) Sparta, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Prohibition |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (before 1884) |
| Spouse |
Emmogene Hinman (m. 1869) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | U.S. Army (Union Army) |
| Years of service | 1862–1865 |
| Unit | 21st Michigan Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Amherst B. Cheney (October 27, 1841 – January 9, 1927) was an American politician.
Amherst B. Cheney was born on October 27, 1841, in Ripley, Ohio to parents Abner J. and Sarah Cheney.[1] His father was born in Vermont before serving as a minister in Ohio, and his mother was from New York. He moved with his father to a farm in Homer, Michigan in 1845.[2] Cheney received a common school education.[3] He moved to Sparta, Michigan in 1858.[2]
On September 4, 1862, Cheney voluntarily enlisted in the 21st Michigan Infantry Regiment as quartermaster sergeant.[1] He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1864.[4] On March 19, 1865, he was severely wounded in Bentonville, North Carolina while commanding Company B. He returned to duty after his recovery. He was mustered out on June 8, 1865.[1]
After the Civil War, Cheney was engaged in a number of businesses, including insurance and real estate.[3] By 1869, Cheney was working as a beekeeper.[1] By 1876, Cheney had served in the local political offices of justice of the peace and town treasurer.[3] In 1876, Cheney was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives seat representing the Kent County 3rd district, on the Republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1878.[4]
As a Republican, Cheney was a strong advocate of the prohibition of alcohol. In 1884, Cheney became a member of the Prohibition Party.[5] The same year, Cheney was nominated by the Prohbitionists for Michigan State Treasurer.[6] In 1886, Cheney ran for the Michigan Senate seat representing the 20th district.[5][7] He was nominated for the board of regents of the University of Michigan in 1887.[8] In 1888, was nominated by the Prohibitionists for governor.[4]
In 1894, Cheney, as a private banker, was sued by multiple people for embezzlement.[9][10] In March 1894, Cheney confessed in probate court to double selling a mortgage to a mentally incapable widow whom he was guardian over.[11]
Cheney again ran for the state senate, the 17th district, in 1910. He ran for Michigan's 5th district in the United States House of Representatives in 1912 and 1916.[12][13]
Cheney married Emmogene Hinman on December 2, 1869, in Sparta.[1][4] In 1899, Cheney was suspended from the Freemasons for non-payment of dues.[14]
After three years of illness, Cheney died on January 9, 1927, in his Sparta home.[15] He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Sparta on January 12.[4][16]