~ ROCHESTER'S HISTORY ~
AN ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE
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Henry Rogers Selden was born of Puritan stock at Lyme, Connecticut, October 14, 1805. He came to Rochesterville in 1825 and began the study of law in the office of Addison Gardiner and his brother, Samuel L. Selden. At the ace of twenty-five he was admitted to the bar, began practice in the town of Clarkson and rapidly advanced to the front rank of American lawyers, where he long stood without a superior. He returned to this city in 1859. In 1851 he was appointed reporter of the Court of Appeals and held the office until 1854. Henry R. Selden was one of the men who advanced the money with which Morse and Vail were able to push the telegraph to success. His brother, Samuel L. Selden, and Henry O'Riely were associated with him in that immortal enterprise. He was president of the "Atlantic, Lake and Mississippi Valley Telegraph Company", and a stockholder in the "New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company," which developed into the Western Union Telegraph company. Judge Selden was one of the organizers of the Republican party, and in 1856 was its candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York with John A. King as candidate for Governor. Both were elected. He was in Europe on business during the campaign, but his reputation was so high throughout the State that his absence did not hazard the success of the ticket. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Republican National convention and supported William H. Seward for the presidency. When Lincoln was nominated, the nomination for Vice-President was offered to Judge Selden, but he declined to accept the honor. When his brother, Samuel L., retired from the Chief Justiceship of the Court of Appeals in 1862 Governor Morgan tendered the office to Henry R. Selden, who waived his claim to the higher position in favor of Judge Denio and accepted the place of Associate Justice, which he held until 1863. He was afterwards elected for a full term, but resigned in 1865 on account of illness. In 1865 Mr. Selden was elected Member of Assembly for Rochester; he also accepted the nomination of his party in 1870 for Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, but was defeated. He was one of the callers of the Liberal Republican convention at Cincinnati in 1872, but was not satisfied with the result and never after engaged in politics. Judge Selden's failing health compelled him to retire from professional life in 1879, but he maintained an active interest in public affairs. His marriage took place September 25, 1834, to Laura Ann Baldwin, daughter of Dr. Abel Baldwin of Clarkson. His widow is still living. Of their twelve children the survivors are George B. Selden, Mrs. Theodore Bacon, Mrs. William D. Ellwanger and Arthur Rogers Selden. Judge Selden died at his residence in Rochester, September 18, 1885.
Biographical Sketch from 'Rochester and the Post Express' 1895
