Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-22
Sketches of the Candidates for Speaker
of the House Of Representatives,

The numerous unsuccessful baliotings for
Speaker of the United States House of Repre-
sentatives have naturally drawn public atten-
ton to the several prominent gentlemen named
for the responsible post, and awakened a de.
sire to know some Of their antecedcnts. We
therefore condense from the Ner York Herald
the following sketches =
WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, of Illinois, was born
in Fayettc county, Ky, in 1911. His father
was a Virginia farmer, and his wife one of the
Edmondson family of the Old Dominion. Her
father and seven of his brothers died in battle.
Mr.. Richardson studied law in Kentucky, prac-
ticed a short time there, and then removed to
Illinois, where he was elected States attorney.
which Office he subsequently resigned to accept
q seat in the legislature. For nine years he
was a democratic member of either the State
senate or house, and of the latter he was at
one time speaker. In 1916 he raised a COM
pany of volunteers and proceeded to Mexico.
At the battle of Bucna Vista, (where he was
promoted to a majorship) he greatly distingu-
ishcd himself. Before his return home he was
elected to Congress, and has been a member
ever since. He is known as the father of the
Nebraska-ka Kansas bill.
NArHANIEL P. BANKS, of Massachusetts, is
IN Vi StAoS bihN oitNA 'OII III 1CIO. l.
commenced life by working in a cotton facto,
~, then learfed the trade of a machinist.-
Subsequently he studied law under the Hon.
r. Rantoul, and was admitted to the bar in
lS4S, in which year the democrats elected him
to the legislature. In 1910 he was a support
er of Martin Van Buren,, and subsequently of
Gen. Cass. In 1851 he was chosen to both
the Massachusetts Senate and House. He ac-
cepted the latter, and was chosen Speaker by
O coalition Of democrats and free-soilers in 1851
and 1852. In 1858 he was chosen to preside
over the State Constitutional Convention, al
though he had just been elected to Congress
by the democrats. At the last Congressional
election he was nominated by both democrats
and know-nothings, and although many of the
former boltcd the nomination because of his
opposition to the Nebraska bill, he was elected
by about 1000 majority. ..
HUMPHREY MARSHALL, of Ky, was born in
that State in 1912, and is a distant relative of
the late Chief Justice Marshall. His mother
is tho sister of John G.. Birney, so often the
candidate of the Liberty party for the Presi-
dcncy. Mr.. Marshall is a graduate of West
Point, and served as a lieutenant under Gen.
Scott in the Black Hawk war. He also serv-
cd g~allantly in the Mexican war. In 1S49the
Wings elected him to Congress" and in 1852
he was reelected, but resigned his seat to ac-
cept the mission to China. Last fall he was
elected again by the know-nothinss, his MAORI
ty being over $500.
LEWIS D. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, was born in
that State in 1871. Ills father was a Virgin
ian. Mr.. c. served an apprenticeship at the
printing business, and afterwards started a Clay
paper at Butler, Ohio. In 1886 he was adj
mitted to the bar, and in 1910 was defeated
for Congress by Col. Weller, by only SO votes,
out of 1000, In lS4S he was elected to Con
gFess as a Wing. and has been a member ever
since: lie is distinguished for his decided OPP
position to the further spread of slavery. His
t'.Er!paI BUSINESS 1t home IS 4 farming.
ht'HT N. FrlrE, Of Pennsylvania, was