Digging deep into history of Colfax's namesake

Editor's note: This is the first in a two-part series on Schuyler Colfax and how Colfax, Calif. came to be named after the civil war-era politician.The most prominent piece of heavy metal in Colfax is, of course, the easiest to find. The bronze statue of the namesake of the town is located on the Depot Plaza at the corner of Grass Valley and Railroad streets. Sculpted at Sierra Sculpture of Auburn by artists Campbell and Van Howd, it was erected in 2001. The following year, the brickwork of the base was completed and the plaque was dedicated by the Colfax Area Historical Society on Founder's Day in Sept. 13, 2003.Just who was Schuyler Colfax? More importantly, why did he end up having so many towns, counties, streets, a locomotive and a couple of mountains across the nation named after him?Schuyler Colfax was given his father's name; he was born in New York City in 1823, four months after his father died from tuberculosis. His grandfather was General William Colfax, who was commander of General George Washington's lifeguards throughout the Revolution. General Colfax married Hester Schuyler, cousin of another famous Revolutionary warrior, General Philip Schuyler.As a result of his father's death, Schuyler Colfax' mother's means were limited. Colfax ended his formal schooling at the age of 10 and became a store clerk. The widow Hannah Colfax remarried to a man named George Matthews in 1834 and the family relocated to Indiana, Colfax's home state for the rest of his life.At age 16, Colfax, determined to educate himself, pursued a systematic and voracious course of reading and study. He was resolved, and successful, at making up what was lost having left school so young.Before entering politics he had become a proven newspaperman as the sole proprietor and editor of his own journal, The St. Joseph Valley Register, in South Bend, Ind.Elected to the national House of Representatives in 1854, he served seven terms ending in 1869. From 1859 to 1861, he was chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, and was responsible for reorganizing the overland mail service to California.In 1863, Colfax was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, and held this office for three terms.In addition to war and reconstruction, another important issue before the House while Colfax was Speaker was the growth of transcontinental railroads. On this subject, according to the Indiana Historical Society, Colfax was an "unabashed enthusiast." In a biography of Colfax, written to enhance his campaign for the vice-presidency in 1868, Edward Winslow Martin wrote, "He was one of the earliest and warmest advocates of the Pacific Railroad, and not a little of its success is due to his efforts on its behalf." This was for good reason; in 1860 the United States was receiving $50 million in gold per year from California. This was being transported via the Panama Isthmus and war with the South was imminent.Next week we will learn about the grand journey Schuyler Colfax took to the west.