Sylvester Artley

American politician

Sylvester Artley (1848–1917) was an American politician. A member of the Socialist Labor Party of America, he served in the Illinois Senate during the 31st and 32nd General Assemblies.

## Biography

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Artley was born on November 30, 1848, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.[1] He was a craftsman and picture frame maker.[1][2] In the 1878 general election, he was elected to the Illinois Senate from the 3rd district and joined in the Illinois General Assembly by three fellow socialists elected to the Illinois House; Leo Meilbeck, Charles Ehrardt, and Christian Meier.[2] Artley defeated Henry F. Sheridan and James Gilmore with 3,775 votes to Sheridan's 3,387 votes and Gilmore's 789 votes.[3] The 3rd district consisted of Chicago's 6th, 7th, and 8th wards.[4] Sheridan challenged Artley's election and demanded a recount, but Artley was seated.[5] In the 31st General Assembly he served on the following committees; Expenses of the General Assembly; Corporations; Banks and Banking, Penal and Reformatory Institutions; Education and Educational Institutions; Labor and Manufactures; Printing; and Military Affairs.[6] In the 1882 United States House of Representatives election, Artley was the Socialist nominee in Illinois's 2nd congressional district. He finished fourth of four candidates with Democratic candidate John F. Finerty winning the election to succeed George R. Davis.[7] He was succeeded as Senator from the 3rd district by Republican John H. Clough.[8]

After his time in the legislature, he moved to San Diego, California, and died in 1917.

## References

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1. ^ a b Gassette, Norman T., ed. (1879). The Illinois Year-book and Almanac. Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd. p. 156. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
2. ^ a b Messer-Kruse, Timothy (August 15, 2012). The Haymarket Conspiracy: Transatlantic Anarchist Networks. Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252094149.
3. ^ State, judicial, congressional and legislative directory, compiled from official records, for the use of members of the Senate, 31st General Assembly, of the state of Illinois. p. 60. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
4. ^ State, judicial, congressional and legislative directory, compiled from official records, for the use of members of the Senate, 31st General Assembly, of the state of Illinois page 32
5. ^ "Legislative Contest". The Illinois State Journal. Springfield, Illinois. December 26, 1878. p. 7.
6. ^ State, judicial, congressional and legislative directory, compiled from official records, for the use of members of the Senate, 31st General Assembly, of the state of Illinois pages 98–99
7. ^ Lusk, David W. (1884). Politics and Politicians: A Succinct History of the Politics of Illinois from 1856 to 1884. Springfield, Illinois. Retrieved September 22, 2022.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
8. ^ Illinois Blue Book 1913–1914 page 384

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