Francis D. Culkin Explained

Francis Dugan Culkin
State:	New York
District:	32nd
Term Start:	November 6, 1928
Term End:	August 4, 1943
Predecessor:	Thaddeus Campbell Sweet
Successor:	Hadwen Carlton Fuller
Birth Date:	10 November 1874
Birth Place:	Oswego, New York
Death Place:	Oswego, New York
Restingplace:	St. Paul's Cemetery, Oswego, New York
Spouse:	Mary Louise Hosmer Culkin (1878–1970)
Children:	Francis Hosmer Culkin (1915–2008) Josephine Louise Culkin (1917–1952) Anthony Grant Culkin (1920–1923)^[1]
Party:	Republican
Branch:	National Guard of the State of New York
Serviceyears:	1898–1908
Rank:	Captain
Battles:	Spanish–American War

Francis Dugan Culkin (November 10, 1874 – August 4, 1943) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

Biography

Culkin was born in Oswego, New York on November 10, 1874, and attended school in Oswego.^[2] He attended St. Andrew's Seminary in Rochester, New York and the University of Rochester, and began a career as a newspaper reporter in Rochester.^[3]

He joined the 48th Separate Company of the New York Army National Guard as a Private and served during the Spanish–American War.^[4] He later received a commission, attained the rank of Captain, and commanded the company until 1908.^[5] Culkin was also active in the United Spanish War Veterans.^[6]

Culkin studied law, passed the bar, and began a practice in 1902 while also serving as Secretary of the Oswego Civil Service Commission.^{[7] [8]} A Republican, he was City Attorney of Oswego from 1906 to 1910, and Oswego County District Attorney from 1911 until 1921.^[9] In 1921 he became a Judge on the Oswego County Court, where he served until his election to Congress.^[10] Culkin was elected in 1928 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thaddeus Campbell Sweet and served from November 6, 1928 until his death in Oswego, New York on August 4, 1943.^{[11] [12]}

Culkin died as the result of histoplasmosis, a rare tropical disease he was believed to have contracted while on a trip to South America in 1938.^[13] He was buried at St. Paul's Cemetery in Oswego.^{[14] [15]}

Legacy

A World War II Liberty ship was named for Culkin.^[16]

Culkin Hall at the State University of New York at Oswego was named for him.^[17]

Culkin's Oswego law firm is still in operation as Amdursky, Pelky, Fennell & Wallen P.C.^[18]

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

Notes and References

1. Oswego County Historical Society, Thirtieth Publication, 1969, page V
2. Harry Fay Landon, The North Country: A History, 1932, page 1059
3. Dan Morris, Inez Morris, editors, Who Was Who in American Politics, 1974, page 174
4. Massena Observer, "Francis D. Culkin, 68, Dies at Home in Oswego", August 6, 1943
5. Charles Elliott Fitch, Official New York, from Cleveland to Hughes, Volume 4, 1911, page 120
6. Maurice Simmons, Ernest W. Larkin, Proceedings of the United Spanish War Veterans, 1911, page 108
7. New York State Department of Civil Service, New York State Service, Volume 20, 1903, page 599
8. Georgina Pell Curtis, Benedict Elder, The American Catholic Who's Who, Volume 5, 1939, page 85
9. James Terry White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 35, 1967, page 251
10. James Clark Fifield, The American Bar, Volume 25, 1937, page 698
11. American Mining Congress, The Mining Congress Journal, Volume 15, 1929, page 263
12. Power Authority of the State of New York, Annual Report, 1944, page 65
13. Mexico Independent, "Funeral Held Today for Rep. F. D. Culkin", August 12, 1943
14. Thomas E. Spencer, Where They're Buried, 1998, page 236
15. New York Times, "Culkin Rites in Oswego Today", August 7. 1943
16. New York Times, "To Name Ship Francis D. Culkin", February 10, 1944
17. The Emeriti Association, State University of New York at Oswego, Fall, 2005, page 1
18. Amdursky, Pelky, Fennell & Wallen P.C., Home Page, 2013