He was born on June 19, 1868, in
Owosso,
Shiawassee County, Michigan, the son of Henry Martyn Newcomb and Lucia (Turner) Newcomb. He attended the public high school in
Washington, D.C.; and graduated from
Williams College in 1892. Then he became a newspaper editor and worked for the
New York Evening Post. He also studied law, was
admitted to the bar in 1902, and practiced in
New York City. Newcomb was a member of the
New York State Assembly (New York Co., 23rd D.) in
1902 and
1904. He was a member of the
New York State Senate (19th D.) from 1909 to 1912, sitting in the
132nd,
133rd,
134th and
135th New York State Legislatures. At the Republican primary for the
New York state election, 1914, he supported
Harvey D. Hinman for governor and, after Hinman's defeat, supported the
Progressive ticket. In 1917, he managed Mayor
John Purroy Mitchel's failed campaign for re-election. From 1917 to 1927, he was Special Counsel to the
Electric Bond and Share Company. From 1927 to 1932 he was counsel to the
National Utility Association. ==Sources==