Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer

Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer (February 3, 1793 – March 11, 1883) was an American Democratic Party politician, lawyer, and jurist who represented New Jersey’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845. He was the son of Ebenezer Elmer and the nephew of Jonathan Elmer, both of whom also served in Congress, continuing a family tradition of public service that was influential in early New Jersey and national politics.

Elmer was born in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, New Jersey, on February 3, 1793. He attended local private schools in Bridgeton before pursuing higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated. His formative years were spent in a community and family environment deeply engaged in civic affairs, which helped shape his later career in law and politics.

During the War of 1812, Elmer served in the militia, beginning as a lieutenant of artillery. Over the course of his service he was promoted to the rank of brigade major and inspector, gaining experience in military organization and public responsibility at a time of national conflict. After the war, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1815, and commenced legal practice in his native Bridgeton. His early legal career advanced quickly: he became prosecuting attorney for the State in 1824 and also served as prosecutor of the pleas for Cumberland County that same year, roles that placed him at the center of the administration of justice in southern New Jersey.

Elmer entered elective office as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, serving from 1820 to 1823. In his final year in the legislature, he was chosen as speaker of the General Assembly, reflecting the confidence of his colleagues in his leadership and parliamentary skills. In addition to his legislative duties, he was appointed United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey in 1824, a position he held until 1829. In that capacity he represented the federal government in legal matters within the state, further solidifying his reputation as a capable and experienced attorney.

As a member of the Democratic Party representing New Jersey, Elmer was elected in 1843 as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress from New Jersey’s newly created 1st congressional district. At that time, the district comprised Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties; Camden County was later created out of Gloucester County in 1844 during his term. He served in Congress from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1845, during a significant period in American history marked by debates over territorial expansion and sectional balance. In the House of Representatives, he served as chairman of the Committee on Elections, playing a central role in adjudicating contested elections and overseeing matters related to the integrity of the electoral process. As a lame-duck Congressman in January 1845, Elmer was the lone New Jersey Democratic vote against the annexation of Texas, a notable stance given the prevailing expansionist sentiment in his party. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1844 to the Twenty-ninth Congress, but his single term reflected active participation in the legislative process and representation of the interests of his constituents.

After leaving Congress, Elmer continued to hold prominent legal and judicial offices in New Jersey. He served as Attorney General of New Jersey from 1850 to 1852, acting as the state’s chief legal officer. In 1852 he was appointed an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, serving on the state’s highest court from 1852 to 1859 and again from 1861 until 1869, when he retired from the bench. His long tenure on the Supreme Court spanned a period that included the years leading up to, during, and immediately after the Civil War, and he contributed significantly to the development of New Jersey jurisprudence over nearly two decades.

In his personal life, Elmer married Catharine Hay on October 6, 1818, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born in Philadelphia in 1794, the daughter of Daniel Hay and Catharine Ferrier. The couple made their home in Bridgeton, where Elmer maintained his law practice and public career. Catharine Hay Elmer survived her husband by more than a year; she died on October 27, 1884, in Bridgeton at age 90 and was interred on October 30, 1884, in Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Elmer remained closely associated with his native region throughout his life. The Borough of Elmer in Salem County, New Jersey, was named in his honor, reflecting his influence and standing in the area. During his service in Congress, he helped obtain a post office for the community, an important step in its civic and economic development. Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer died in Bridgeton on March 11, 1883, and was interred in the Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery there, closing a long life marked by military service, legal distinction, legislative leadership, and judicial authority in New Jersey and the nation.