Edward O. Wolcott

Wolcott's parents were Samuel Wolcott, D.D. and Harriet Amanda (Pope) Wolcott. They had eleven children. As of 1889, his nine siblings were: Samuel Adams raised stock near San Antonio, Texas. Henry Roger was a capitalist living in Denver. William Edgar was a Congregationalist minister in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Herbert Walker was a lawyer in Denver. Agnes Vaile lived with her husband at Lexington, Massachusetts. Mrs. Charles H. Toll of Colorado. At that time, three daughters lived at home with their mother, Anna, Clara, and Charlotte.[1] His sister, Anna Wolcott Vaile, established the elite Wolcott School for Girls in Denver.[2] A native of Hampden County, Massachusetts, Wolcott moved to Ohio as a boy.[3]

He served in the 150th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.[3] He enlisted at age 16.[1]

In 1875, he graduated from Harvard Law School and moved to Colorado where he set up a law practice. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, one of the partners in his practice was Charles W. Waterman, later a United States Senator.[3]

In 1879, Wolcott moved to Denver, where he began his political career as a Colorado state senator (1879–1882). In 1889, he was chosen to represent Colorado in the U.S. Senate, as a member of the Republican Party. He was reelected in 1895, and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1901, 1902 and 1903.

While in Washington, D.C., Wolcott was a leading advocate for the coinage of silver. In 1897, President McKinley named him chairman of the commission sent to Europe to report on international bimetallism. He was a popular host and guest in Washington society. He was chairman of the Committee on Civil Service (51st and 52nd Congresses), and Retrenchment Committee on Post Office and Post Roads (54th through 56th Congresses).

In 1900, Wolcott was denied renomination to the Senate, which ended his political career. He once again took up the practice of law in Colorado, and maintained that practice until his death.

He died while he was on vacation in Monte Carlo. Wolcott's remains were cremated, and the ashes were interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City. The town of Wolcott, Colorado is named after him.

• Nevins, Allan. Henry White : Thirty Years of American Diplomacy. New York : Harper & Brothers, 1930.
• United States Congress. "WOLCOTT, Edward Oliver (id: W000667)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.