Edwin M. Stanton’s Cadiz home marks legacy of Civil War leader

The home of Edwin M. Stanton once stood in Cadiz. Stanton served as the 27th U.S. secretary of war under President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and continued in that role under President Andrew Johnson after Lincoln’s death.

Stanton was born in Steubenville to David and Lucy Stanton Dec. 19, 1814. He studied law under Daniel Collier and was admitted to the bar in 1835. He began his legal career in Cadiz at the law firm of Chauncey Dewey.

After his marriage to Mary Ann Lamson of Columbus Dec. 31, 1836, Stanton partnered with attorney and federal judge Benjamin Tappan, for whom Tappan Lake and the village of Tappan are named. Stanton worked with the Cadiz anti-slavery society and the local newspaper, the Sentinel. He was elected Harrison County prosecutor in 1837.

In 1839, Stanton returned to Steubenville to oversee the legal work of Tappan, who had been elected a U.S. senator from Ohio. Stanton struggled with asthma throughout his life. His condition worsened, and he died Dec. 24, 1869.

Stanton is remembered for helping shape Union military success and postwar policies. His complex relationship with Johnson and his role during Reconstruction underscored his significance in American history. Cadiz and Steubenville both claim Stanton as a favorite son. A statue of Stanton stands in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Stanton’s Cadiz home was torn down in 1913. It was located between what are now Stanton Avenue and Dewey Avenue. A neighborhood park now occupies the site.

The photograph is from a postcard, and the information is from the files of the Harrison County Historical Society.