Nehemiah Abbott

Nehemiah Abbott (March 29, 1804 – July 26, 1877) was an American attorney and politician from Maine. Originally active in politics as a Democrat, he became a Republican when the party was founded in the mid 1850s. Among the offices in which he served were member of the Maine House of Representatives (1842–1844, 1845–1846), member of the United States House of Representatives (1857–1859), and mayor of Belfast (1865–1866).

Biography
Abbott was born in Sidney, Maine on March 29, 1804, a son of Asa Abbott and Hepzibah (Brooks) Abbott. He attended Litchfield Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1836 and began to practice in Calais, Maine. In 1839, he moved to Columbus, Mississippi, where he continued the practice of law. In 1840, he returned to Maine and settled in Belfast.

Originally a Democrat, in 1842, 1843, and 1845 he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives. Abbott became a Republican when the party was founded in the mid-1850s. In 1856, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served one term, March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859. During his U.S. House service, Abbott was a member of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. He did not run for reelection in 1858, and resumed the practice of law.

During the American Civil War, Abbott supported the Union. In 1864, he was appointed temporary chairman of the National Union Party nominating convention for Maine's 5th congressional district. He served as mayor of Belfast from 1865 to 1866.

Abbott died in Belfast on July 26, 1877. He was buried at Grove Cemetery in Belfast.

Family
In 1836, Abbott married Caroline Williams Belcher. They were the parents of six children— Caroline Belcher, Howard, Emma Fuller, Clifford Belcher, Annie Gill, and Henry Fuller.