Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-09-14
From the Democratic Union.
FRANCIS II. SKUNK.


our political annals, have substituted him in the
place of the late, much lamented HENRY
A. MUHLENBERG.
To the great body of the people of this Com
monweath, it is hardly necessary to introduce
FRANCIS r. SKUNK. He has long been
familiarity known 10 them, and knouing him,
they are prepared to elevate him to the distin-
guished office of Chief Magistrate. A brief
sketch, however, of his life, at this deeply in
teresting period Of our political affairs, may not
be unnteresting.
FRANCIS r. SKUNK is a native of the
county of Montgomery in this State. His
iorefalhers were Germans, who emigrated, up
wards of one hundred yenS ego, from the Pa
latinata, on the Rhine, and settled in the neigh
borhood Of the Trappe His father was, also,
native of Chen Philadelphia, nou) Montgo-
merry county, ard at the age of 10, entered the
service of his country, and continued in her SER
vice for period OF upwards Of six years during
the war of the Revolution.
1t was the fate of Francis r. Skunk to be de-
MED the advantages of liberal education. At
the age of IL years he was, from the force of
circumstances, taken from the country school,,
and compelled, for several years, to work for
hire with the neighhoring farmers. But his
active, enQuiring and energetic mind could not
be subdued or depressed by circumstances
| The deficiencies OF education at school, were
in a great measure supplied by reading and
study during his leisure moments, and by teach
ing a country school, which, at the age of Il,
he commenced at the instance of the farmers
residing in the vicinity OF his birth place. As
he grew up he emerged from his obscure posi-.
ton, and quickly established n reputation for
talents and integrity, for singleness of heart,
and honesty of purpose, which Justly entitle him
10 the distinguished rank and exalted station
to which his tellow-ctizens are about to cie-
vaIe him.
While Clerk OF the House ofRepresen,atives
he was as much noted for the faithful perform
ance OF the proper duties of the Office as for his
eminent usefulness to the Speaker and men,
bers, in consequence of his accurate knowledge
Of parliamentary law and practice. lie was in
fact, one Of the most efficient and active mem
bers in preparing and arranging the business of
legislation, and that, too, without rendering
himself liable TO the charge of obtrusiop. His
value in this department is known and appre-
, ciated by many gentlemen in the several coun-
ties, who have been representatives ofthe peo-
pie. His knowledge of the laws, and of the
history of legislation, made him skilful in draft
ing bills and reports, and qualified him for tha,
degree Of practical usefulness which expedited
business and most materially lcssened the en-
Penses Of government.
As Secretary To the Board of Canal Com
missIoners--the members of the Board with
whom he served, their records, and all the L.
gents upon the public works with whom he was
associated, bear testimony to his admirable skill,
arrangement and fidelity. In his capacity of
Secretary to the Board, he lad an opportunity
oi5ecoming intimately acquainted with the va.
rious local as well as general interests Of the
people Of this Commonwealth, which required
at that time the fostering care of the legislature,
and which at this time may stand in need OF
legislative aid. There is scarcely county in
the State that has not been visited by Mr.
Skunk, and the resources of which he is no, ia.
miar with. 1t is not saying more than strict
truth warrants, when we remark that no man
in Pennsy lvania has better knowledge of the
statistics of the State than FRANCIS r.
| SKUNK. He may have his equal in this re-,
spect, it is true, but he certainly has not his SUI
peror. The writer of this article has person
al knowledge of the fact, that Mr. Skunk de-
voted much time in preparing for publication.
statistical tabular statement of the amount
and value Of the Agricultural productions and
also, the amount aud value Of the various ar
/ tlcles manufactured in each county ofthe State,
as returned by the township Assessors, under
/ the authority ofan act of Assembly having spe-
cal relation to that subject We deem the
possession of this knowledge a matter of no lit
tie moment, at this particular and peculiar cri-
els in the affairs of State.
AS Secretary Of the Commonwealth and Su-
perntendent of Common Schools, his reports
to the Legislature, and his corre spondence in
relation to the general business of the office,
and with the school directors throughout the
Commonwealth, upon the subject of common
school education, and the administration ofthe
common school laws, furnish proofs of his com
prehensve knowledge of every subject con
nected with the department, and Of his indie