American public man, born at Theresa, NY, on the 7th of August 1835. He worked as a farm-hand, as a brickmaker, and as a clerk in the village store; and, having taken a course in the high school of Theresa, became a teacher. Removing to Watertown, NY, he combined a jewelry with a brokerage business; engaged in banking in New York City in 1869; and commenced to interest himself in politics. In 1881, upon the resignation by Levi P. Morton of his seat in Congress when appointed minister to France, Mr. Flower was elected, as a Democrat, to fill the vacancy. The following year he was elected for a full term. In the same year he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor; and in 1885 declined the nomination for lieutenant-governor. In 1888 and in 1890 he was again elected to Congress. In 1891 he was elected governor of the state. During the cholera scare of 1892 he took a prominent part. On September 10, 1892, the passengers of the Normannia were transferred, first to the Stonington and afterward to the Cepheus to be taken to Fire Island, where Governor Flower had secured the hotel for quarantine purposes, personally guaranteeing $50,000 of the $210,000 paid for the purchase. The Cepheus was unable to land, and had to put out to sea, the passengers suffering untold hardships. The people of Fire Island rose against the landing of the passengers, but Governor Flower was prepared for prompt measures, and on the 13th sent the militia to effect the landing, but there was no necessity for extreme measures. In 1886 he was appointed one of the electric subway commissioners of New York City, and in 1893 the University of Lawrence bestowed on him the degree of LL.D. In 1896 he ranged himself on the side of gold.
