John Gelston FLOYD, Congress, NY (1806-1881)

FLOYD John Gelston , a Representative from New York; born in Mastic, near Moriches, Long Island, N.Y., February 5, 1806; attended the common schools, and was graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y., in 1824; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced practice in Utica, N.Y.; clerk and prosecuting attorney of Utica, N.Y., 1829-1833; founded the Utica Democrat (later the Observer-Dispatch) in 1836; appointed judge of Suffolk County; member of the State assembly 1839-1843; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1839-March 3, 1843); returned to Mastic, Long Island, about 1842; member of the State senate in 1848 and 1849; elected to the Thirty-second Congress (March 4, 1851-March 3, 1853); chairman, Committee on Agriculture (Thirty-second Congress); joined the Republican Party upon its formation in 1856; retired from public life; died in Mastic, Long Island, N.Y., October 5, 1881; interment in the family cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present