Joseph Carter Abbott (July 15, 1825October 8, 1881) was a Union Army colonel during the American Civil War who was awarded the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers and a Republican United States senator from the state of North Carolina between 1868 and 1871. During his career in private life he was a lawyer, newspaper editor and businessman. He also served as collector of the port of Wilmington, inspector of posts along the eastern line of the southern coast during the Rutherford B. Hayes Administration, and special agent of the United States Treasury Department.
Early life
Abbott was born in Concord, New Hampshire on July 15, 1825, to farmer Aaron Carter Abbott and Nancy Badger. He attended public schools in Concord and attended Phillips Academy Andover, Massachusetts to prepare for college attendance, graduating in 1846.
In April 1851, Abbott became editor of the Manchester American. Six months later he became editor of the New Hampshire Statesman published at Concord. In May 1852, he moved to Manchester and became editor and owner of the Manchester American. He sold his interest in the newspaper in 1857. From May 1859 to May 1861, he served as an editor and part owner of the Boston Atlas and Bee.
Abbott was an active member of the Whig Party and supported its ideas of American nationalism and economic growth. and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on February 14, 1865. During the final stages of the war, he was stationed in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Abbott was made commander of the Post of Wilmington on March 2, 1865 and held the city with four regiments, while other federal forces incurred further into North Carolina's interior. General Joseph R. Hawley was appointed commander of the District of Wilmington. Wilmington was shortly thereafter overwhelmed by sick former federal prisoners of war, refugees, and freed slaves. Hawley and Abbott thus focused their efforts on the developing humanitarian crisis and containing the spread of disease. Abbott's wife joined him in Wilmington and assisted in relief efforts before she succumbed to typhoid fever in June 1865. Abbott, who was relieved of the command of the Post of Wilmington that month, was granted a brief leave of absence to tend to her burial before returning on July 5. He was mustered out of service on July 20.
Postbellum business career
thumb|Newspaper advertisement for the Cape Fear Building Company
While stationed in North Carolina as the post commander of Wilmington, Abbott befriended local businessmen. Sensing a business opportunity in a region with ample timber resources and labor but little capital, he ended his affairs in the North and permanently relocated to Wilmington in September 1865 Once there, he began acquiring land and clearing pine forest in Bladen County. The Cape Fear Building Company won key building contracts in Wilmington and advertised its products as a far away as Cuba. The convention was organized into 13 committees to study various issues. Abbott was made chair of the Committee on Finance. He also displayed an active interest in internal improvements. While some Republican delegates favored repudiating the state's debts, Abbott opposed this move and joined with six others in purchasing state bonds with the intent to resell them for profit. The convention voted to declare the state debt inviolable. The convention met in its last session on the morning of March 17. With Cowles not present, Abbott assumed the president's chair. After tending to various business, the convention heard a series of celebratory speeches. On Abbot's motion, the body adjourned for the last time.
Investigations later revealed that Abbott was among several politicians paid by Soutter and Company to secure passage of a legislative ordinance by the convention that backed $1,000,000 in bonds of the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Railroad and was paid by George William Swepson of the "Railroad Ring" after the convention. Abbott used Swepson's money for bribes to ensure political support for railroad aid, and once this became publicly known he was criticized in the press. He served until March 4, 1871. In the U.S. Senate, Abbott became a chief spokesman for federal improvements to the port of Wilmington. while the General Assembly voted again and elected Matt W. Ransom to succeed Abbott. Ransom was seated on April 24, 1872, while Abbott was permitted to collect pay and travel reimbursement until April 23, 1872.
Abbott attended the Republican National Conventions of 1868 and 1872 served as a member of the Republican National Committee from North Carolina from 1872 through 1876. He died in Wilmington following an illness on October 8, 1881. He was originally buried in the National Cemetery in Wilmington. He was reinterred in 1887 at Valley Cemetery in Manchester, New Hampshire. Despite three marriages, he died childless.